Cat® Grade Control Depth & Slope for E-Series and F-Series Excavators Caterpillar

Configuring a Cat ^® Grade Control Bucket

Note: The appearance and operation of the "Work Tool" list changed significantly in April 2014. This appearance changed the list of "Work Tools" from a total of 10 tools to a total of 20 tools as well as supported a new simplified bucket measure up process.

Note: The release date for the software on a machine may be viewed on the onboard machine display in the "Service" menu under "ECM Summary". Compare the "Software Release Date" for the machine ECM with the April 2014 or later, software change date.

Perform the following procedure to configure a Cat Grade Control bucket:

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1. From the main menu, select "Work Tools". To configure a bucket, select a tool from the list. Navigate the work tool list with the up/down arrows. When the desired tool is selected, press the "OK" key.
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2. To edit a bucket, press F3 (the third soft key from the left – Tool Dimension icon).
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3. Press the "OK" key to acknowledge the warning.
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4. Follow step 4.a instructions for software released prior to April 2014. Follow step4.b instructions for the new simplified bucket measure up procedure from software released April 2014 or later.

   Note: In software released April 2014 or later, the "Tool Type" field can only be changed from the "Simplified Bucket Measure-Up" procedure described later except for, length (J) to (J1) that can be edited to account for bucket wear.

   Note: The "Simplified Bucket Measure-Up" icon is the second button from the left position. The button is only shown in newer software described in the following sections.

   1. For bucket configuration in legacy software, select the "Tool Type" field and use the up/down arrows to scroll through the selections. Press the "OK" key to save the selection.

   2. Press the "Simplified Bucket Measure-Up" button, the second softkey from the left in Figure 4 to start the measure-up process.
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5. Select the "Tool Program Name" field and press the "OK" key. Use your arrow keys to navigate the on-screen keyboard, and the "OK" key to select the desired letter, number, or function. The tool program name is "BUCKET ONE", refer to Illustration 5. When the name is complete, press F3 (third soft key from the left) that says "Enter".

6. Press the "OK" key when the "Work Tool Type" field is highlighted. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the available options. Press the "OK" key when the desired selection is highlighted. For proper Grade Control operation and retention of the bucket dimensions, the "Work Tool Type" field should show USR WT#XX corresponding to the tool number in the "Work Tool" list.

   Note: If the "Work Tool Type" field shows "Disabled", then any dimensions entered for the bucket will not be retained through a machine power cycle and the system will notify the operator to "Check Linkage Dimensions" on the next machine power-up.

   Note: The Simplified Bucket Measure-Up icon will not be visible until the Work Tool Type is set to USR WT#XX.

Configuring a Cat ^®Grade Control Bucket using Legacy Machine Software released before April 2014

Note: Machines with an AccuGrade or GCS900 3D system with v12.5 firmware or earlier will only function with Legacy Machine software release before April 2014.

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Points for a standard bucket or a bucket with a quick coupler

Note: The dimensions of any quick coupler or quick hitch are included the bucket dimensions. For machines with quick couplers, the bucket measurements to point (G) are measured to the pin between the stick linkage and quick coupler linkage. Similarly for machines with quick couplers, the bucket measurements to point (H) are to the pin between the power linkage and the quick coupler. The points where the bucket attaches to the quick coupler are ignored.

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Points for a tilt bucket

Note: Points "I" to"J" and "K" to"J" may or may not be parallel or overlapping.

1. Below the "Work Tool Type" field are various bucket dimensions. Use the diagrams above to measure the different dimensions for the bucket being used.

   Note: The points to measure on a standard bucket and a bucket with a quick-coupler will be different than those points on a tilt-bucket. Points "I" and "K" on a tilt-bucket are both required.

   Note: Length "K" - "J" is not required for standard buckets but the dimension will remain shown in the list and set to 0.00.

   Note: Point "Q" is used for the Linkage Elevation Monitor and as such does not require the same level of accuracy. Point "Q" will not impact the accuracy of the guidance values shown on the monitor.

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   Entering a bucket dimension

2. To enter a bucket dimension, press the "OK" key when the desired dimension is highlighted. Use the up/down arrows to adjust the measurement or type in the measurement using the switch console when in numeric entry mode. When the measurement is correct, press the "OK" key.

Configuring Cat ^®Grade Control with New Simplified Bucket Measure-Up Software Released April 2014 or Later

Grade Control for Hydraulic Excavators utilizes a simplified bucket measure-up process in all software released April 2014 or later. The simplified bucket measure-up procedure in Grade Control is outlined below.

Note: "Body Tilt", "Front Linkage", "Boom Sensor", "Stick Sensor" and "Bucket Calibration" must have been completed prior to initiating the new simplified "Bucket Measure-Up" software released April 2014 or later. These calibration measurements are now completed at the factory so there should be no issue proceeding directly to the "Bucket Measure-Up".

Note: The machines upgraded with an AccuGrade or GCS900 3D system, v12.61 of the software is required for proper operation and transfer of dimensional data to the 3D grade control system.

1. After configuring the "Work Tool Type" from the "Tool Dimension" screen, press the F2 softkey (second softkey from the left) to initiate the bucket measure-up procedure.
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2. Press the "OK" key to acknowledge the warning.
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3. Select the "Tool Type". Use the up/down arrow keys to choose the desired work tool type of a tilt bucket or a standard bucket. Press "OK" to continue.

   Note: The following steps demonstrate a tilt bucket. Tilt bucket requires a few additional steps that a standard bucket does not require.

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4. After defining the bucket type, measure the distance between points "G" and "H". Refer to Illustration 7.

   Note: The dimensions of any quick coupler or quick hitch are included the bucket dimensions. For machines with quick couplers, the bucket measurements to point (G) are measured to the pin between the stick linkage and quick coupler linkage. Similarly for machines with quick couplers, the bucket measurements to point (H) are to the pin between the power linkage and the quick coupler. The points where the bucket attaches to the quick coupler are ignored.

   Note: If the user is not familiar with the exact locations of these points, the "F3" button (third soft key from the left under the "?" icon) can be pressed to see an example. This additional guidance is available anytime the "?" icon is visible.

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5. Measure and enter the distance from Point (G) to Point (J). Follow the same steps as described previously for entering this dimension and press "OK" to continue.
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6. Measure and enter the distance from Point (G) to Point (Q). Follow the same steps as described previously for entering this dimension, and press "OK" to continue.

   Note: Point (Q) is located on the heel of the bucket. Point (Q) is not used for guidance but for the "Linkage Elevation Monitor" feature. Point (Q) can be selected based on the discretion of the user as the point that has the potential to be the highest point of the machine in certain linkage positions.

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7. Measure and enter the distance from Point (J) to Point (Q). Follow the same steps as described previously for entering this dimension, and press "OK" to continue.
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8. Measure and enter the width of the bucket. Follow the same steps as described previously for entering this dimension, and press "OK" to continue.
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9. Align Point (G) vertical with Point (J). A plumb bob can be suspended from Point (G) and the bucket can be curled until Point (J) is directly below Point (G). Once the bucket is positioned correctly, press the "OK" button to continue.
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   Note: A plumb bob may be utilized to ensure that the bucket cutting edge/floor is vertical in this step instead of a bubble level.

10. Attach a magnetic bubble level to the floor of the bucket and curl the bucket or hang a plumb bob over the back of the bucket until the floor is vertical. Once the bucket is positioned correctly, press the "OK" button to continue.

    Note: Positioning the bucket with the floor vertical will capture the angle of the bucket for future wear compensation.

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11. Define an initial length of the bucket teeth or cutting edge. This dimension is utilized for the "Tooth Wear Compensation" feature. When measuring Length (J) - (J1), Point (J1) is located at the discretion of the user. Follow the same steps as described previously for entering this dimension, and press "OK" to continue.

    Note: The user should select a measurement location that is not likely to be affected by bucket wear. For example, it is not advised to measure from the cutting edge to the tip of a tooth because the cutting edge can also wear over time.

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    Note: If the bucket being measured is not a tilt bucket, the following steps related to the tilt function will not appear in the calibration.

12. Level the tilt axis by curling the bucket. A magnetic level can be attached to the end of the tilt axis pin to show when the axis is level. Once the bucket is positioned correctly, press the "OK" button to continue.
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13. Use a bubble level and position the cutting edge so that the bubble level is perfectly horizontal. Once the bucket is positioned correctly, press the "OK" button to continue.
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14. With the tilt axis level and the cutting edge level, measure and enter the distance from Point (J) to Point (K). Depending on the bucket shape, a square can be used to assist in obtaining Length (K-J). Follow keypad number entry steps to enter this dimension, and press "OK" to continue.
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15. Raise the left bucket tooth by around 1 foot. This height allows the system to learn the orientation of the sensor on the bucket. Once in the correct position, press the "OK" button to continue.
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16. If the bucket was positioned correctly, then pressing the "OK" button will complete the calibration. Press the "Return" button to exit the procedure.

Editing a Cat Grade Control Bucket for Wear

The simplified bucket measure-up process supports a new feature which allows the user to edit one simple dimension allowing the machine to adjust the bucket dimensions to compensate for physical wear that occurs on the bucket cutting edge or teeth.

Note: This wear dimension must always be measured from the original reference point for all wear dimension edits.

Note: The machines upgraded with a AccuGrade or GCS900 3D system, v12.61 of the software is required for proper operation and transfer of dimensional data.

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1. To edit the wear on a bucket, enter the main menu and select "Work Tools"

2. Press the F3 (the third soft key from the left - Tool Dimension icon) to open the bucket dimension screen.
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3. Scroll down and select Length "J-J1"
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4. Enter length J-J1 with the new distance measured from the original measure-up point on the bucket to the cutting edge of the bucket. Use the up/down arrows to adjust the measurement or type in the measurement using the switch console when in numeric entry mode. When the measurement is correct, press the "OK" key.

   Note: If the original measure-up point for J1 is not used, inaccuracy can be introduced into the system. In some cases, the current Length J1 - J value before editing may provide some indication of the J1 point used on the bucket.