In the field of engineering construction, both front shovels and backhoes are important excavation equipment, but they have many differences. From the perspective of the working device structure, the working device of the front shovel consists of a boom, a dipper and a bucket. The cutting edge of the bucket faces upward, and the excavation operation is performed by pushing the bucket forward. Its boom is shorter and the dipper is longer, which is suitable for excavating and loading heavier materials. The working device of the backhoe excavator also has a boom, a dipper and a bucket, but the cutting edge of the bucket faces downward, and the excavation operation is performed by pulling the bucket backward. Its boom is longer and the dipper is shorter, which is more conducive to working in narrow spaces and some deep excavation.
In terms of applicable working conditions, the front shovel is usually used to excavate and load materials with greater hardness and larger particles, such as ore and rock. It can carry out large-scale earthwork operations, with a large excavation depth, and can directly load materials onto transport vehicles to improve work efficiency. Backhoe excavators are more suitable for excavating softer soil, sand and gravel and other materials, as well as for foundation engineering, pipeline laying and other operations. It can be operated flexibly in narrow places, and the digging depth is relatively shallow, but it can perform precise digging and trimming.
There are also differences in the operation methods. When operating, the front shovel excavator needs to move forward, which requires high vision and operating skills of the operator, and because of the large digging force, a more stable working platform and support are required. The backhoe excavator can perform digging and rotation operations at different angles as needed, which is more flexible. However, when digging deeply, care should be taken to prevent the fuselage from tilting and overturning.
The price and maintenance cost are different. Generally speaking, the price of the front shovel excavator is relatively high, because of its complex structure and large digging force, it requires a more powerful power system and a sturdy structure. The maintenance cost is also high, and the working device, hydraulic system, etc. need to be regularly inspected and maintained. The price of the backhoe excavator is relatively low, and the maintenance cost is relatively low. However, during operation, parts such as the bucket and the dipper arm are easy to wear and need to be replaced and repaired in time. For second-hand dealers, the scope of application of the front shovel excavator is relatively narrow, and the demand in the second-hand market is small, but the price may be high. The applicability of the backhoe excavator is wide, and the demand in the second-hand market is large, but the price may be low. When purchasing and selling used excavators, second-hand dealers need to set reasonable prices based on market demand and equipment conditions to ensure cost-effectiveness.
In short, front shovel excavators and backhoe excavators have obvious differences in working device structure, applicable working conditions, operation methods, prices and maintenance costs. When choosing, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the specific project requirements and operating environment to ensure the smooth progress of the project.