4.2. Determining Balanced Number of Trucks

But the loading time will be number of bucket loads multiplied by the bucket cycle time. Another important thing you have to keep in mind is, for any machine whatever maybe the mission we have discussed about different types of machines so far. All the machines we are concerned about the safe gravimetric capacity of the machine. For every machine what is this safe operating load in terms of weight is given by the manufacturer, so that we call it as a gravimetric capacity. Only that capacity your machine can take because the structural frame of the machine is designed to handle that particular load only. So, we are not supposed to load the machine beyond the gravimetric capacity.

Each machine, such as trucks and excavators, has a specific limit to how much weight it can safely handle. This limit is known as the gravimetric capacity. It is set by the manufacturer to ensure the machine operates safely without experiencing structural damage. Understanding this capacity is crucial because overloading can lead to failures and increased wear and tear.

Think of a backpack. If your backpack has a weight limit of 20 pounds, carrying 30 pounds may cause it to break. Similarly, trucks have a weight limit to avoid damage.

So, since the density of material can vary from case to case, it is always advisable to check whether the load weight is within the safe gravimetric capacity. Check the load weight against the gravimetric capacity of the truck. For that you need to know what is the unit weight of your material, if you know the density of your material you can multiplied by the volumetric load you will get the actual weight of material in the truck.

To ensure that your truck is not overloaded, you need to first determine the weight of the material you plan to load. This is done by calculating the volume of the load and multiplying it by the density of the material. The resulting weight must be compared to the gravimetric capacity of the truck to confirm that it is within safe limits.

If you're filling a swimming pool with water, knowing the pool's dimensions (volume) and the weight of water (density) helps you ensure you don't overfill it. In the same way, trucks need to manage their load weight based on volume and density.

If the material is going to be denser like wet sand or other denser material, what happens is there are more chances that your machine may be overloaded. That means the weight of material in the truck will be above the safe gravimetric capacity defined by the manufacturer. In that case it will result in a lot of wear and tear to the machine, particularly your tires will flex and it will result in abusing of tires.

When the material being loaded is denser (like wet sand), there is a higher risk of exceeding the truck's weight capacity. This results in stress on the truck, particularly damaging the tires which can increase maintenance costs significantly. Recognizing the density of materials being transported is crucial to prevent excessive wear on the equipment.

Imagine driving a car that’s overloaded with heavy luggage. The extra weight can lead to faster tire wear and even cause breakdowns. Trucks experience a similar effect with heavy loads.

So, balancing is very important, just now we discussed balancing the capacity of the interdependent machines very important. So, balancing the capacity of the hauling equipment and the excavator bucket size will result in maximum loading efficiency, and reduce total cost.

When using excavators and trucks together, it's vital to match their capabilities. For example, if the truck’s capacity is significantly larger than the excavator’s bucket size, you could end up with trucks waiting to be loaded, reducing efficiency. Striking a balance ensures that both machines operate effectively together, maximizing productivity and minimizing costs.

Think of a restaurant. If the chef can make 10 dishes in an hour but the waiter can only serve 5, the chef ends up waiting for the waiter, wasting time. Balancing the capacities of the chef and waiter would lead to smoother service.

Let us find the balanced number of trucks, so how many trucks are going to be served by one excavator, that depends upon the cycle time of your truck and the cycle time of your excavator. So, divide the truck cycle time by the excavator cycle time, you will get the balance number of trucks. The balance number indicates a particular number at which both the machines are working at same production level.

To determine the optimal number of trucks needed for one excavator, calculate the ratio of the truck cycle time to the excavator cycle time. This gives you the 'balanced number of trucks' that will allow both machines to work at peak efficiency without excessive waiting time.

If a teacher has 30 students in a class, but only a limited number of desks, some students will end up waiting. Similarly, having the right number of trucks for one excavator prevents downtime and keeps production flowing smoothly.

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