Cat® Grade Control for the D8T and D9T Track-Type Tractors 3D Caterpillar

A sloping surface requires a slope design and a name. Creating a sloping surface generates a design file. Load a design file to give the machine guidance.

Note: Save the new slope design before you can work to the design.

There are two methods for defining a sloping surface:

"Two-Points method (2 Points)" - "Two-Points method (2 Points)" defines the master alignment with a starting point and an end point. For more information, refer to "Two-Point Method".

"Point-and-Direction method (Pt / Dir)" - "Point-and-Direction method (Pt / Dir)" defines the master alignment with a starting point, direction, and grade. For more information, refer to "Point-and-Direction Method".

Illustration 1	g01120173
Elements for the sloping surface design

Illustration 1 shows the elements of a sloping surface design.

Both methods describe the same surface. Use the method that best suits your requirements. In both methods, the master alignment extends in both directions.

The "2 Points" and "Pt / Dir" dialogs update each other with information. The "Point 1" values and the "Cross Slope" values are the same in each dialog. Enter the values for Point 2. Then change to the "Pt / Dir" dialog in order to see the calculated direction and grade. Check that the values are within the limits of the design. If you change the "Direction" setting or the"Grade" setting in the "Pt/Dir" dialog, then that change clears the value of "Point 2" in the "2 Points" dialog, as there is not enough information in order to calculate the new position.

Both methods require you to specify a cross slope. The cross slope is the slope at right angles to the direction of the master alignment. A typical cross slope for a road is −3 percent. A positive (+) cross slope rises and a negative (−) cross slope falls as you move away from the defined master alignment.

Define the cross slope to the left and to the right of the master alignment. The cross slopes to the left and right of the master alignment can be set independently.

Two-Point Method

Point 1 consists of a northing position, an easting position, and an elevation. Point 1 must be located on the surface that you want to work to.

Point 2 consists of a northing position, an easting position, and an elevation. Point 2 must be on the surface that you want to work to.

The software for the Cat Grade Control system connects the first point to the second point. The connecting line is called the master alignment. Use the master alignment for on-line guidance.

In order to create a sloping surface using the Two-Point method complete the following steps:

1. Press the "Design: <Name>" soft key from any of the guidance screens. The "Select Design File "dialog appears.
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   Illustration 2	g02559730

2. Select the desired coordinate system.

   Use Last - Uses the coordinate system in the last loaded design. This will maintain the same Northing, Easting, and elevation reference.

   Auto create on load - Automatically creates a coordinate system based on the current position. This option may provide less precision than a coordinate system provided in a normal design file.

3. Press the "New Slope" soft key. The "New Design Sloping Surface" dialog appears.
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   Illustration 3	g01269327

4. As a default, the "Method: 2 Points" method is selected and the positions for Point 1 are shown. Refer to Illustration 3.

5. Perform one of the following actions:

   1. Press the "Here" soft key in order to use the current position of the guidance point that has focus.

      One of the "Blade: Left" or "Blade: Right" soft keys appears in the "Sloping Surface Design" dialog.

      Note: If the "Here" soft key is not available, a high accuracy position is not available. For more information, see "Common Problems and Guidelines" in the Troubleshooting Section.

   2. Use the arrow keys in order to enter the design northing, easting, and elevation values for the start point. Press the next key in order to move to the next field.

6. Press the "Point 2" soft key.

7. Perform one of the following actions:

   1. Move to the second point and press the "Here" soft key in order to use the current position of the guidance point that has focus.

   2. Use the arrow keys to enter the design northing, easting, and elevation values for the end point. Press the next key in order to move to the next field.

      When the two points are entered, the Cat Grade Control system calculates the direction and grade values. To view the calculated values, press "Method: Pt / Dir".

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   Illustration 4	g01269349

8. Press the "Cross Slope" soft key. The "New Design: Sloping Surface" dialog shows the fields for the left and the right cross slope. Refer to Illustration 4.

9. Perform one of the following actions:

   1. Use the arrow keys in order to enter the value for the left cross slope.

   2. Press the "Level" soft key.

10. Press the next key in order to move to the "Right" field.

11. Specify the right cross slope as described in Step 9.
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    Illustration 5	g01269351

12. Press the "OK" key. The "Design Name" dialog appears. Refer to Illustration 5.

13. The Cat Grade Control system provides a default name. Use the arrow keys to change the "Design Name".

14. Press the "OK" key in order to accept the name and return to the "Select Design File" dialog. The new design file is highlighted.

15. Press the "OK" key in order to load the new sloping surface design.

Point-and-Direction Method

Instead of entering a second point, the user can enter the direction and a grade. The specified values are used to create the master alignment of the sloping surface.

The direction specifies the bearing of the master alignment.

The grade, is the grade at which the master alignment rises or falls along the specified bearing. You can enter the grade as a ratio or a percentage.

As you travel in the specified direction, a positive (+) grade rises and a negative (−) grade falls.

The grade in a "Grade field" is normally expressed as a ratio. A grade of 1:1000 (or 0.1percent) is nearly level and a grade of 1:8 (or 12.5 percent) is steep for a road.

To enter a sloping surface using the Point-and- Direction method, complete the following steps:

1. Press the "Design: <Name>" soft key from the guidance screens. The "Select Design File" dialog appears.
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   Illustration 6	g02559731

2. Select the desired coordinate system.

   Use Last - Uses the coordinate system in the last loaded design. This will maintain the same Northing, Easting, and elevation reference.

   Auto create on load - Automatically creates a coordinate system based on the current position. This option may provide less precision than a coordinate system provided in a normal design file.

3. Press the "New Slope" soft key . The "New Design: Sloping Surface" dialog appears.
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   Illustration 7	g01269353

4. Press the "Method: 2 Points" soft key. The soft key changes to "Method: Pt / Dir" and the Point position fields are shown in Illustration 7.

5. Perform one of the following actions:

   1. Press the "Here" soft key in order to use the current position of the guidance point that has focus.

      One of the "Blade: Left" or "Blade: Right" soft keys appears in the "Level Surface Design" dialog. This ensures that you know which blade tip the position is taken from.

      Note: If the "Here" soft key is not available, it means that a high accuracy position is not available. For more information, refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Troubleshooting Techniques".

   2. Use the arrow keys to enter the design northing, easting, and elevation values. Press the next key in order to move to the next field.
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   Illustration 8	g01269354

6. Press the "Direction" soft key. The "New Design: Sloping Surface" dialog shows the "Direction" and "Grade" fields. Refer to Illustration 8.

7. Use the arrow keys to enter the "Direction" value in decimal degrees. This defines the master alignment clockwise from north (for example, 123.5 degrees).

8. Press the next key in order to move to the "Grade" field. The "Level" soft key appears.

9. Do one of the following actions:

   1. Use the arrow keys to enter the "Grade" value.

   2. Press the "Level" soft key.
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   Illustration 9	g01269437

10. Press the "Cross Slope" soft key. The "New Design: Sloping Surface" dialog shows the left and right cross slope fields. Refer to Illustration 9.

    Use the arrow keys in order to enter the "Left Cross Slope" value.

11. Press the next key in order to move to the "Right" field.

12. Enter the "Right Cross Slope" value as described in Step 11 above.
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    Illustration 10	g01269444

13. Press the "OK" key.

    You can enter the "Point", "Direction", and "Cross Slope" values in any order. When the "OK" key is pressed or the screen is switched, the software checks that the fields are valid.

    Note: If required data is missing or invalid, you are warned. The appropriate screen is displayed so that you can enter the information.

    If the data is valid, the "Design Name" dialog appears. Refer to Illustration 10.

14. The Cat Grade Control system provides a default name. Use the arrow keys in order to change the name.

15. Press the "OK" key in order to accept the name and return to the "Select Design File" dialog. The new design file is highlighted.

16. Press the "OK" key in order to load the new sloping surface design.

Editing a Sloping Surface

You can edit the definition of a sloping surface design, but you cannot edit the name of a sloping surface design.

If the sloping surface designs, direction, grade, and the cross slope have not changed but you want to work to an offset height, use the vertical offset function from the guidance screen.

To edit a sloping surface design, complete the following steps:

1. Press "Design: <Name>" from any guidance screen. The "Select Design File" dialog appears.

2. Press the arrow keys in order to select the sloping surface to edit.

3. Press the "Edit" soft key. The "Edit Design: <Design Name>" dialog appears.

4. Follow the instructions in "Sloping Surface Design".

Note: If the sloping surface design was already loaded, the edited design is automatically reloaded. The design reloads whether you press the "OK" key or press the escape key to exit the "Select Design File" dialog.

Cutting to Grade with Indicate Only Option

1. Turn on the power to the display.

2. Set the display to show the "cut/fill" for the left and right. Also configure the display to show the "Design Elevation". Refer to , "Text Items - Set".

3. Select a design.

4. Select "Plan View".

5. Operate the machine in order to cut the material.

6. Make as many passes as needed in order to get the cut values within approximately 0.15 m (0.5 ft).

7. Raise and lower the blade as needed in order to keep the "Cut/Fill" values near zero.

8. Left and right cut values will change to fill values if the material is cut below the design elevation.