Next-generation Cat 6060 hydraulic mining shovel
Six-hundred-tonne heavyweight redesigned for greater performance and increased durability
ACCORDING to Caterpillar, the next-generation 6060 hydraulic mining shovel comes with multiple design enhancements and new components to advance machine performance, durability, serviceability and operator comfort.
The 6060 features updated engines, optimized hydraulics, heavy-duty structures and undercarriage, Cat electronics and a state-of-the-art cab. The new shovel is also fully integrated into Caterpillar product support systems for efficient Cat dealer services.
The 600-tonne-class heavyweight has a bucket payload of around 61 tonnes (34 cubic metres) per pass in both faceshovel and backhoe configurations, making it an efficient four-pass match with the Cat 793 mining truck and five-pass match with the Cat 794 AC mining truck.
With gross engine power of 2,256kW (3,023hp), the Cat 6060’s twin Cat 3512E engines are optimized for high performance, fuel-efficient operation and increased durability. The updated engine design is said to boost reliability and extend the time between overhauls by 10%.
Moreover, the efficient engine and optimized hydraulics allow for 10–15% better fuel efficiency compared with the previous faceshovel model, and 3–5% greater efficiency for the backhoe configuration. For reduced maintenance, engine oil and filter change intervals have been doubled to 1,000 hours.
To boost longevity, the Cat undercarriage features heavy-duty rollers, idlers and tracks, along with a revised track-tensioning system. The superstructure frame, faceshovel and backhoe attachment structures have also been redesigned to reduce structural repair and extend service life through increased plate thicknesses and geometric improvements, whilst the slew-ring design extends component life with a triple-race roller bearing and sealed internal gearing.
The Cat 6060 features a new, state-of-the-art cab and operator station with a large floor window and expansive windscreen and side windows providing unrestricted lines of sight to the crawler tracks and pit floor, to aid the operator when repositioning the shovel and when loading trucks.
The pneumatically cushioned operator seat, which can be heated and ventilated, has integrated joysticks and is multi-adjustable for optimal ergonomics, whilst improved sound suppression on the power module keeps spectator sound levels low, while the sound-suppressed cab provides a quiet working environment for the operator.
Enhanced Motion Control – the first of several features within the Operator Assist suite – is standard on the shovel and improves machine controllability and loading efficiency while reducing linkage and cylinder mechanical contact. The machine’s five-circuit hydraulics design allows simultaneous control over two cylinder motions, two travel motions and swing to boost digging and loading efficiency.
The next-generation design also helps improve service and maintenance efficiency by offering more room inside the service compartment and easy ground-level accessibility to the service station. The integration of Cat hoses in the design allows for local hose sourcing, whilst improved hose and component organization further reduces machine downtime.
Sensors located throughout the Cat 6060 monitor operating data, record faults and provide audible and visual notifications of issues to the operator. Fitted as standard for the first time on the machine, Product Link Elite allows data communication for remote machine health monitoring. The Cat 6060 also comes ready to accept Cat MineStar Solutions, a comprehensive suite of mining technologies geared to enhance safety, improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
In addition to the next-generation diesel-powered 6060, Caterpillar continue to offer the electrically powered 6060 AC faceshovel for mines optimized for such machines.
