Proven Solutions: Cutting Tool Trenching Solutions

A customer was excavating solid rock for a wind farm in Texas for the placement of power distribution lines. A competitor's tooling solution resulted in production of less than 1 foot per minute (fpm). 

• Material Excavated: Mixture of hard limestone/cobblestone
• Conditions: 65–75° F, with operations occurring between noon and 6:00 p.m.
• Machine: Tesmec M5 chain trencher, 18" wide chain with 130 toolholders
• Problems: Competitor tooling wearing out carbide in less than one day, inability to cut at a rate of 1 fpm 

TS31CX (25 pieces)
38/30mm Step Shank Picks • C Groove Series 3.0"
SAP Material Number: 4066872
ISO Catalog Number: TS31CX
Grade: K3560MH

TS40CX (45 pieces)
38/30mm Step Shank Picks • C Groove Series 2.5"
SAP Material Number: 4009198
ISO Catalog Number: TS40CX
Grade: K3560MH

The team installed TS31CX and TS40CX in a standard long-short- long penetration pattern with short 2.5" TS40CX tools on the outside “sweeping” edges. 

In testing, Kennametal's trenching solutions extended tool life from less than one day to more than three. The crew was impressed with how long our carbide lasted even when cutting the hardest rock.

Before the installation of Kennametal tooling, excavated material as seen on the left in the photo was finer and sandier and did not enable efficient trenching. With Kennametal TS31CX and TS40CX installed in a penetration pattern, rocks seen on the right were larger, chunkier, and easier to excavate. In addition to longer tool life, Kennametal solutions improved production output from less than 1 fpm to almost 3 fpm. 

The information contained in this report is intended for comparative purposes only and is based upon a limited test sample. The information has no guarantee of actual future results. The information is provided ‘as is’ without any warranty of any kind whether express or implied.