The Caterpillar 315 crawler excavator is a compact Next Gen Caterpillar excavator with an updated powertrain, technology, and simplified maintenance. Operating weight is 35,700 pounds, and it has a 110-horsepower Cat C3.6 engine that is more powerful than the predecessor. Smart mode operation automatically matches engine and hydraulic power to match digging needs, which conserves fuel in less-demanding applications.
Maximum dig depth is 19 feet 7 inches, and maximum loading height is 23 feet 8 inches.
The advanced hydraulic system on the Caterpillar exavator balances power and efficiency to increase productivity by up to 8 percent over the 315F L. Its new electronic hydraulic valve delivers significant efficiency gains, while offering the capability of future technology growth. A 10 percent higher swing torque makes working on slopes and around the job site more efficient, and the drive system navigates tough ground conditions and slopes with 14 percent more drawbar pull.
The compact radius 315 GC Caterpillar excavator is also available, and does not include the range of technologies as standard equipment.
Standard new technology elevating excavator productivity and efficiency includes Cat Grade with 2D system, which is upgradable to Grade with Advanced 2D or Grade with 3D. Grade with 2D automatically guides digging depth, slope and horizontal distance to quickly and accurately reach desired grade. Up to four different depth and slope targets can be established, saving time and money at the jobsite. Increasing safety when excavating in confined spaces, the new 2D E-fence keeps the front linkage within a predefined work area to avoid hazards on the job site as well as standard cab avoidance.
As with other Next Gen Caterpillar excavators, technology aids productivity. Cat Payload helps operators to meet load targets and increase efficiency by providing on-the-go weighing and real-time estimates of the payload without swinging. Payload can be combined with VisionLink to remotely manage production targets. Critical operating data such as fuel usage, payload summaries and fault codes are tracked by standard Cat Product Link to help boost fleet management efficiency.
The Cat 315 uses the Next Gen cab design that provides 13 percent more room and 60 percent greater vertical visibility than the 315F L it replaces. Comfort, Deluxe, and Premium cab styles are available. Advanced viscous mounts significantly reduce excavator vibration feedback to the cab, and the tip-up left console eases entry and exit.
The Deluxe and Premium cab options include a larger, 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen monitor for easy navigation of the intuitive operator controls; the Comfort cab is equipped with an 8-in touchscreen. Joystick controls are ergonomically located to reduce operator fatigue, while joystick settings and preferred power mode are quickly set to a specific user ID via the monitor.
Rearview and right-side cameras are standard, and a 360-degree camera system is optional.
Maintenance costs can be reduced up to 25 percent on the Cat 315 excavator. Change intervals for the fuel filters are 500 operating hours, and the hydraulic oil filter improves filtration and increases changes intervals by 50 percent to 3,000 hours. New anti-drain valves keep the hydraulic oil clean during filter replacement to improve system longevity. The cab’s new air filter provides a two-times longer cleaning interval as the previous model.
Filter life and maintenance intervals are tracked through the in-cab high-resolution monitor. All daily maintenance checkpoints are easily accessible from ground level, and two dipstick locations allow for ground- or top-level checking of the engine oil. Cat S∙O∙SSM ports are now accessed from ground level to allow for quick and easy fluid sample extraction for analysis, simplifying maintenance.
