Dipper mounter laser receiver

[jd6820]

Yeah we run a CR600 spectra receiver. It’s a great bit of kit, gets you within an inch with a tight machine and consistent bucket/dipper position. When we need total accuracy we follow with a staff. But saves hours of labour and cheap enough to have a go with. Do quite a few levelling jobs varying from lawns to arenas and it does the job. It won’t make up for inexperience though! You ideally need to be able to pull a decent grade first then use it as a reference. It’d take all day otherwise...

 

[jd6820]

Nearly forgot, we are using it today as it happens. Just on with levelling a large low shop in one of our fields. (2-3 acres worth) My brother has currently got it stuck to the side of the dipper on little kubota KX121

My take on the whole job is that you either have the budget system and use it as a basic guide or opt for something like I-dig or Trimble grade assist. The halfway house using a high end receiver with plumb indicators just increases basic accuracy and I don’t feel gives you any greater time savings as such it’s quite a jump to I-dig but long term will save you more I reckon. We don’t do enough to justify it as we are more on a part time basis to justify running the machines we do.

 

[Nasco]

What does the idig set up cost?

For a standard mono-boom machine we’re doing 1 system on 2 machines for £6500 + Vat.
Swappable between machines in less than 5 mins.
We did have a couple of our demonstrator systems but they sold yesterday.

 

[Gunners]

I've got one of those Spectra receivers, used it a couple of times but couldn't get it accurate enough for drains. Alright bulking out an area but the other thing I struggled with is finding somewhere on my mini digger dipper to mount the damn thing. You either have hoses in the way or its too low down the dipper and it cant see the laser in the trench. You've got to get your laser height bang on to then be able to mount the receiver where you want it on your dipper when its at grade. Total pain in the arse, haven't used it since, bought Idig and will never look back.
Idig is the best thing I've bought by far in terms of how much time it saves me and gains me in productivity. I'm on hire at the moment because of it with my digger - and the guy has his own machine! Expensive yes, but so much better than these mag receivers.

 

[Nasco]

For a standard mono-boom machine we’re doing 1 system on 2 machines for £6500 + Vat.
Swappable between machines in less than 5 mins.
We did have a couple of our demonstrator systems but they sold yesterday.

Also some good finance deals to be had for less than £30 a week

 

[DaveDCB]

Also some good finance deals to be had for less than £30 a week

Glad I ain’t got any finance outstanding at the moment
#justsaying

 

[Furniss]

Idig is the best thing I've bought by far in terms of how much time it saves me and gains me in productivity

Does that include the Tiltrotator ?

 

[Brendan]

I've got one of those Spectra receivers, used it a couple of times but couldn't get it accurate enough for drains. Alright bulking out an area but the other thing I struggled with is finding somewhere on my mini digger dipper to mount the damn thing. You either have hoses in the way or its too low down the dipper and it cant see the laser in the trench. You've got to get your laser height bang on to then be able to mount the receiver where you want it on your dipper when its at grade. Total pain in the arse, haven't used it since, bought Idig and will never look back.
Idig is the best thing I've bought by far in terms of how much time it saves me and gains me in productivity. I'm on hire at the moment because of it with my digger - and the guy has his own machine! Expensive yes, but so much better than these mag receivers.

Does that mean the cr600 is up for sale?

 

[TiltyShaun]

Does that include the Tiltrotator ?

Can’t speak for Gunners.....but for me the Tilty edges it on the 3tonner.....on Gunners advise I went Idig on the 8tonner first. I was doing some landscape modelling on the 8 today and boy do I miss the Tilty!!

 

[Furniss]

Yeah like you I have few machines 8t - 3t and old 1.5t and I know everyones work is different and transport setup id different etc etc but I cant afford to put tilty on 3t and 8t - what would you put tilty on if neither had one ??
I like the fact Idig can be setup across several machines.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Yeah like you I have few machines 8t - 3t and old 1.5t and I know everyones work is different and transport setup id different etc etc but I cant afford to put tilty on 3t and 8t - what would you put tilty on if neither had one ??
I like the fact Idig can be setup across several machines.

I started with the 3 tonner and the Tilty. So most of my work revolves around that digger. I took my nephew under my wings last year and started doing more groundwork’s rather than just machine work. The nephew gets more time in the 8 tonne machine, loading dumper, soil riddling and general site work. I jumped on it today and to free style some soil to give the client some idea I had regarding levelling and modelling and I miss the Tilty. I notice when my nephew drives the Kubota and I get in after, he has the Tilty pedal locked so I don’t think he uses as he doesn’t have it on his machine. The idig. We both love it!! It is a different tool from the Tilty!!
On the 3 tonner I have the Tilty direct mounted and have never regretted that. On the 8 I would probably go for a twin hitch, which adds to the cost. Tilty not needed to load lorries!! So for the moment, I would say 3 tonne digger with Tilty first!!

 

[Nasco]

Yeah like you I have few machines 8t - 3t and old 1.5t and I know everyones work is different and transport setup id different etc etc but I cant afford to put tilty on 3t and 8t - what would you put tilty on if neither had one ??
I like the fact Idig can be setup across several machines.

Its only £300 for a set of sensor plates for a std mono-boom machine, and you can add the system to another machine yourself.

 

[Furniss]

Dont think I would have any use for it personally but is a 3d Idig on its way ?

 

[JD450A]

On another note, Can Nasco PM me a price out of curiosity for a I Dig system installed on 5 Excavators, and will it work on a large Long Reach

 

[Furniss]

I think putting a tilt hitch on the 3t and a tiltrotator on the 8t might be a good way to go if you have nothing on either.

Been looking at Idigs website and they make an attempt with the aid of an online calculator to work out how long before it has paid for itself... even with a very minimal setting it suggests that 300days (say 2 years) and its paid for, be interested to hear from lads with it on how much time in reality they estimate they save an average day ?? it also has a box for estimating material savings for overdig which for us is pretty irrelevant as we stick pretty tight to grades.

Thinking of getting them out with a demo.

 

[Gunners]

I think Idig earns its money back faster than a tiltrotator and if I had my time again, I would have got Idig first. It saves me time on almost every job I do, I no longer need a labourer and my digging accuracy is improved. Whats not to like?
I guess it depends on your work but for me it has helped to completely change how I work, its won me work, and I wouldn't be without it now. But I could probably live without a tiltrotator - as nice as it is to have.

As for how to setup your machines, its your decision. I am in agreement with Shaun in that the tiltrotator works really well on a smaller machine for finishing work, and a larger machine is more suited to harder digging, heavier lifting and muck shifting. So for me (and Shaun) it works well having one on a 3t. Remember though that Idig can be put on both, so as an initial investment, you could have the best of both worlds with Idig on both machines. Let it earn you money and you should be able to get the tilty next year!

 

[Furniss]

In reality if it paid for itself in time saved that would do ..... I wouldnt expect it to make money as such but if it covered its cost and meant not so much in or out of the cab or labourer dipping for grade that would do, cant realistically work on my own on our jobs so it wont save me a man but should mean he can be otherwise employed and not stood around just for checking grades.

Will get them out 4 a demo

 

[Nasco]

In reality if it paid for itself in time saved that would do ..... I wouldnt expect it to make money as such but if it covered its cost and meant not so much in or out of the cab or labourer dipping for grade that would do, cant realistically work on my own on our jobs so it wont save me a man but should mean he can be otherwise employed and not stood around just for checking grades.

Will get them out 4 a demo

IDig will earn its keep, where abouts are you based

 

[Grahams]

will it work on a large Long Reach

I had mine temporarily set up on a 15m long reach (spare set of plates for hire machines), worked perfectly.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Used my idig today to set some drainage up. First 2 pipes in didn’t look right. Quick check To make sure the idig was set properly and realised had input the wrong bucket. Pressed the button. Reset the pipes and away I went getting around the house and arriving bang on at the last connection