Three Things We Need to Manage During the Life of an Undercarriage In my previous article, I looked at some of the KPIs that help us understand whether we’re managing undercarriage life successfully. These included Percent Worn at Removal, Component Life Achieved, planned versus unplanned replacement and ultimately Cost per Hour. But KPIs measure the […]
What Does It Take to Get Full Life From Your Undercarriage? Read More »
A visual inspection identifies equipment defects, wear and structural deterioration. Its primary value lies in timing. Early findings allow teams to schedule cost-effective maintenance, prevent secondary damage, and reduce unplanned downtime. Main Objectives of Equipment Visual Inspections Visual inspections provide actionable data across five core areas: That last point deserves particular attention. How Do Visual
What Is the Value of Performing Visual Inspections? Read More »
Structural cracking is an ongoing challenge on large mining equipment. Haul trucks operate under heavy loads, continuous vibration and changing road conditions. Over time, cracks can develop in the chassis and other structural areas. Most mining operations already inspect for these cracks, but the way the information is recorded can make it difficult to manage
Chassis Crack Mapping: Finding the Crack Is Only the Start Read More »
Every mining operation performs structural inspections on its mobile equipment. Whether it’s an electric rope shovel, hydraulic excavator, haul truck, loader or dozer, inspectors routinely identify cracks, assess repairs and monitor structural integrity to ensure equipment remains safe and reliable. Yet despite the importance of these inspections, many organisations still manage them using a combination
Why It’s Time to Digitise Chassis Structural Crack Inspections Read More »
For track-type dozers, undercarriage life has traditionally been forecast using machine hours. It’s simple. It’s widely accepted. But it’s often wrong. Hours measure time — not work. Undercarriage wear is driven by movement, not idling. Why Hours Fall Short Two machines with the same hours but different travel distances will not experience the same undercarriage wear behaviour. Because hours don’t account for:
Maximizing Undercarriage Life with Distance-Based Forecasting Read More »
Why Identical Machines Wear Differently Mining operations often see two tracked machines performing similar work consume undercarriage components at very different rates. One machine may achieve significantly more operating hours from chains, rollers, or idlers than another machine working in the same mining area. Regular undercarriage inspections provide the starting point for understanding this behaviour.
Variability in Undercarriage Consumption Across Identical Machines Read More »
Large mobile equipment structures experience extreme stresses that cause metal fatigue and cracking. Maintenance teams measure, monitor, analyze, and repair these cracks to prevent escalation and structural failure. Key Capabilities Immediate Benefits
Crack Mapping of Off-Highway Trucks chassis & Shovel Components Read More »
Undercarriage frames are rebuilt regularly and require detailed records of bore measurements, crack repairs, and replacement components. TrackTreads provides full visibility and control over the rebuild process. Key Capabilities Immediate Benefits
Undercarriage Frame Rebuilds Read More »
Ensure dozer swing chains and frames are available when required so teams can remove and rebuild installed components without impacting production. Effective inventory management keeps components ready, tracked, and rebuilds on schedule. This results in end to end swing chain and Frame inventory management. Key Capabilities Immediate Benefits TrackTreads provides the Software Tools to manage
Undercarriage Inventory Management Read More »
Accurate measurement of undercarriage components is essential to correctly assess wear levels and to provide a reliable estimation of the remaining component life. Carrier (or upper) rollers present particular challenges in this process. The internal surfaces of the roller shell are machined with varying shapes to accommodate both the roller and thrust bearings, as illustrated
Measuring Upper Rollers in Undercarriage Systems for Accurate Results Read More »