Caterpillar has introduced two new tracked machines for forestry applications, the 325C FM and 330C FM. The new machines are designed to be versatile, efficient and durable in delimbing, log loading and road building applications.
"These new machines are designed from the ground up to be forestry machines," said Tomaz Fleury, senior project engineer for forestry machines at Caterpillar. "Even though they are similar, they are not just machines taken from the Caterpillar line of hydraulic excavators and restyled. Everything on them has been redesigned and constructed to withstand the rigors of forestry work.
"Excavators and forestry machines have completely different functions. An excavator does its work from ground level to below ground level. A forestry machine does its work from ground level to above ground level. In addition, the terrain that a forestry, machine encounters is more harsh than that of a construction site where an excavator is used."
The 325C FM is designed as a swing machine and features a high-performance engine and hydraulic system, as well as purpose-built forestry structures with the versatility to be configured as a log loader, delimber or roadbuilder. The 325C FM is based on the latest 325C hydraulic excavator and is designed to offer improved performance through increased horsepower and hydraulic flow.
As compared in the 325B, the 325C FM has about 8 percent more horsepower, 13 percent more hydraulic flow, 8 percent more swing torque, and 13 percent improved drawbar pull, Cat stud. These enhancements are intended to maximize productivity through faster implement speeds, quicker and stronger pivot turns and greater maneuverability.
The new 330C FM is available in four arrangements, the standard general forestry arrangement for delimbing and processing on roads or cleared landings, while the high wide general forestry model is a good match for off-road applications and roadbuilding. Two log loading configuration are so available--one with a Caterpillar cab and riser, the other is for use with auxiliary equipment manufacturer (AEM) cabs.
The new 330C FM delivers 12 percent more horsepower than the B-series machine it replaces and hydraulic flow tins been increased 17 percent along with 5 percent higher swing torque, Cat said.
The 325C FM is powered by the Tier II emissions compliant Caterpillar 3126B ATAAC (turbocharged and air-to-air aftercooled) six-cylinder diesel engine rated 180 net hp. The engine features electronic engine control and the Caterpillar HEUI fuel system. The automatic engine speed control boosts fuel efficiency and reduces sound and vibration levels, according to Caterpillar.
The 330C FM is powered by a Tier II emissions compliant Caterpillar C9 diesel engine with a rated net output of 247 hp. The engine drives twin hydraulic pumps that deliver up to 74 gpm of flow for responsive operation even under heavy loads. Swing torque for the machine is as high as 79,657 lb.ft., allowing faster swing times to reduce cycle time for higher productivity.
The 325C FM and 330C FM have open center, two pump, negative flow hydraulic systems that incorporate a cross-sensing system that controls both hydraulic pumps to use 100 percent of the available engine power in all operating conditions.
To enhance implement control even further; the system offers standard fine swing control cushions at swing start and stop. Hydraulic cylinder snubbers at the rod end of the boom cylinders and both ends of the stick cylinders cushion shocks, reduce sound and increase cylinder life. The boom and stick regeneration circuit increases efficiency and re&lees cycle times for lowering operating costs and higher productivity.
The front end linkages include heal-type loader arrangements to fit a wide variety of log-handling and log-loading applications. Heel booms are particularly well suited for handling large diameter saw logs. Factory-installed and supported heel boom Caterpillar grapples are matched to the factory logging fronts to increase production and reliability. For machines that will be equipped with a Butt-n-Top grapple, an optional hydraulic arrangement with controls is available from the factory, along with the necessary 37 ft. front.
The 325C FM can also be configured as a roadbuilder and can be equipped with a bucket, thumb, clamshell, or clearing grapple to fit a wide range of forest road construction requirements. As a stroke delimber carrier, the 325C FM can be fitted with one of a variety of AEM delimbers.
Different undercarriages are offered to adapt the 325C FM to the application. The standard gauge, heavy-duty undercarriage is designed for extended life in roadside processing applications and in general forestry work. The high-wide (HW) undercarriage combines the heavy-duty features of the standard gauge with increased drawbar pull ground clearance, track gauge, and plate thickness for work at the stump and in-woods log-loading and shovel-logging applications.
Operating weight for the 325C FM in general forestry configuration with the HDLC undercarriage is 69,333 lb. and 71,639 lb. with the general forestry HW undercarriage. In the log loader, under/ under configuration, it 'has an operating weight of 81,783 lb. and 83,050 lb. in the log loader, over/under configuration.
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