GCS 300 System Operation

Application – Level 1

Learning Objectives

After completing this module you will be able to: Identify system components Understand how the system operates Setup and bench the machine Utilize the laser receiver for elevation control Utilize the slope sensor for blade slope control.

Theory of operation Operational theory applies to GCS300-GCS600

configured for a motor grader or dozer A reference elevation or slope is set, then any

changes are sent from the elevation device or slope sensor to the control box. The control box then sends these corrections to a valve module, which in turn sends a correction signal to the valve.

The valve corrects the blade for the changes that were detected

System components The main components for GCS 300 are the LR410, EM400 or

AS400, CB420, Power module and a Valve module.

CB420

AS400

PM400

VM4xx

LR410

EM400

Component descriptions Each component serves a specific purpose

The LR410 features 360° laser detection and is mounted on the EM400

The EM400 is an electric mast that can be raised and lowered through the control box in the cab. This allows the user to position the LR410 in the center of the laser beam

The AS400 is a slope sensor that controls the actual slope of the blade.

Component Description The CB420 is the control box that is mounted in the cab. It

is essentially the “brain box” of the system. It processes the elevation changes from the LR410 and sends it along to the valve module

The VM4xx is the valve module. The valve module receives the corrections from the control box and sends the proper correction signal to the valve (Different VM for different Valve types)

The PM400 is the power module. It receives machine voltage and delivers clean, filtered power to the system.

System configuration GCS 300 is a single point elevation or blade slope only

system Utilizing only one of the following components

OR

Single laser receiver (LR410) Single point elevation operation

Single slope sensor (AS400) Blade slope operation

Component placement

LR410

EM400

CB420

VM410

PM400

Review

1. What are the 6 main components for GCS 300?Answer: LR410, CB420, AS400, PM400, VM4xx & EM400

2. What components are required for elevation control?Answer: LR410, EM400,CB420, PM400 & VM4xx

3. What components are required for slope control?Answer: AS400, CB420, PM400 & VM4xx

4. What component detects the laser beam?Answer: LR410.

CB420 switch layout

DisplayRight Inc/Dec SwitchLeft Inc/Dec Switch

Elevation Select Switch

*Not used with GCS300

Slope Direction Switch Power / Setup Switch

Right Rest / OK ButtonLeft Rest / Esc Button

Auto / Manual LED’s

Switch descriptions

Power/Setup switch Turns the CB420 on and off Accesses the Configuration menu when the switch is in the “i”

position Right Inc/Dec switch

Controls the right blade height or slope Scroll though the menus

Left Inc/Dec switch Controls the left blade height or slope Scroll through the menus.

Switch descriptions Elevation Select switch

Not used with GCS300 Selects which side elevation is automatically or manually

controlled. Cross-slope is then displayed on the opposite side. The center position is for dual elevation.

Slope Direction switch Swaps the angle of the blade when the system is configured

with a slope sensor.

Auto / manual LED’s One set for left side and one set for right side Lights up green when in automatic mode Lights up amber when in manual mode

Switch descriptions

Right Reset switch (Used when the mast or slope sensor is plugged into the right side of the harness)

Resets the blade’s right bench elevation when “Right” is selected from the menu

Enables the right laser receiver to search for and lock onto the center of the laser beam (EM400 required)

Reads the right slope when in slope control Accepts changes made in the “Configuration” menu Enables one step forward in the “Configuration”

menu.

Switch descriptions

Left Reset button (Used when the mast or slope sensor is plugged into the left side of the harness)

Reads left slope when in slope control Resets the blades left bench elevation when “left” is

selected from the menu Enables the left laser receiver to search and lock onto

the center of the laser beam. (EM400 required) Rejects changes made in the “Configuration” menu Enables one step back in the “Configuration” menu.

Grade indicators

Left grade indicatorsRight grade indicators

The left grade indicators are active when a device is plugged into the left side.

Three colored lights indicate whether the blade is in a cut, fill or on grade position.

Down Arrow = Cut

Horizontal line = on grade

Up Arrow = Fill

The right grade indicators are active when a device is plugged into the right side.

Remote switches The auto/manual remote switch can be used to:

Toggle between operator control and GCS 300.

Auto/Manual

Manual Automatic Blade Control Operator GCS 300 Trimble Valve Inactive Active

Remote switches

The offset switch can be used to: Increase or decrease the elevation or slope by a set amount

Elevation/slope offset

Component Connected Type of Offset Laser Receiver Elevation Slope Sensor Slope

Review

1. What color are the LED’s when the system is in automatic mode?

Answer: Green

2. What position must the on/off switch be in to access the configuration menu?

Answer: The top position or “i” position

3. What switch controls the blade height or slope?Answer: The right or left increase/decrease switch. Depends on if the device is plugged into the left or right side

4. What switch starts the mast search?Answer: The “OK” button (right reset button)

Review

5. What do the 3 grade lights represent?Answer: Cut, on grade & fill

6. What are the three functions of the remote switch?Answer: Switch from manual to auto, elevation offset & slope

offset

Main display overview

Powering up the system Toggle the power switch to the “I” position The following screen will be displayed

The icons represent devices that are plugged in to the system.

Reference elevation

Remote switch connected

Guidance Source

Device connected

Elevation icon

Icon description

The icons are displayed according to what guidance method is being used

Examples: The guidance source can be an asterisks to represent

a laser or a picture of a blade to represent blade slope The device connected; is a picture of a mast and receiver

when using elevation control or it is a picture of slope sensor when using blade slope control

The elevation icon is when operating with a reference elevation or it is displayed as when operating with a cut/fill guidance.

Review

1. What do the five icons represent on the main display?Answer: Guidance source, elevation icon, device connected, reference elevation & remote switch

2. This icon is displayed when using a slope sensor. True or False

Answer: False, this is displayed when using a laser for elevation

3. This icon is displayed when using a reference elevation. True or False

Answer: False, this is displayed when using cut/fill guidance

Operating sequence

Steps for operation Bench blade Set reference elevation Increase or decrease elevation offset as required Switch into automatic.

Benching

The blade must be benched over a point with a known elevation that is relative to the design surface

1. Level the blade using a spirit level 2. Place the center of the blade on the benchmark (the

center, is the point on the cutting edge that is directly under the center of the mast)

3. Press the “OK” button. The mast will automatically search for the laser beam. The search will stop once the receiver has found the laser beam

4. The system is now benched.

Set reference elevation

Now that the blade has been benched a reference (benchmark) elevation needs to be entered

Toggle the switch to the “i” position The following screen will be displayed

Toggle either until “Reference Elevation” is highlighted Press the “OK” button to enter the reference elevation

menu

Reference elevation The system detects what side the mast is connected to

Press “OK”

The current reference elevation is displayed To set this number to zero, press the “Esc” and “OK” button

at the same time.

Change the reference elevation

Press the to move the cursor to the right until the digit desired is highlighted

Toggle either to increase or decrease the value of the digit

Repeat these steps until the desired elevation is entered

Press “OK” to save the entered elevation, this also exits to the main menu

Toggle the to the “I” position to return to normal operation.

Elevation offset

Now that the system has been benched and a reference elevation has been set, it is ready for use

Move the machine to the work area Lower the blade to the working surface If the grade indicators are showing a solid high arrow, then

toggle the remote offset switch to enter an elevation offset until the grade indicators flash

This will prevent the blade from driving into the ground when the system is in auto.

Operation

Press the auto/manual button on the remote switch to activate automatics

The blade will automatically move to the reference elevation or elevation offset

Increase or decrease the elevation offset until the blade is pushing a workable amount of material

This may take a few passes to perfect.

Grading

Grading is complete when one of the following occurs: There is no elevation offset applied to the reference

elevation The on-grade indicators are displayed for the entire pass The blade is skimming the surface without pushing any

material.

Review

1. What is the first step in Automatic operation?Answer: Benching the blade

2. The blade can be positioned at any angle over the benchmark. True or false

Answer: False, the must be leveled and centered over the benchmark

3. How is the reference elevation set to zero?Answer: Press the “Esc” & “OK” button simultaneously

4. How is the cursor moved to the right to change a digit in the reference elevation?

Answer: Press the slope direction button

Review

5. What button is used to save the entered reference elevation?

Answer: The “Ok” (right reset) button

Blade slope The display will show a percentage of slope rather than

a reference elevation Use the to increase or decrease the amount of slope Once the correct slope is dialed in, press the

auto/manual button on the remote switch to activate automatics

The blade will tilt to the percent of slope that was entered

The operator will control the elevation and material load.

Field exercises

1. Locate components on machine2. Power on system

Identify display icons Confirm system configuration

3. Setup for elevation operation Bench blade Set reference elevation Increase or decrease elevation offset as required Switch into automatic.

Field exercises

4. Setup and operation of slope control Set percent of slope Increase or decrease slope offset as required Switch into automatic

5. Remove and store components LR410 CB420 Coil cord

Learning Objectives

You should now be able to: Identify system components Understand how the system operates Setup and bench the machine Utilize the laser receiver for elevation control Utilize the slope sensor for blade slope control.

Questions?

?

Questions Tomorrow? For technical support, contact Trimble:

e-mail: trimble_support@trimble.com Phone US: 800 5387800 Phone EMEA: +49 6142 2100 555 Phone AP: +86 21 5046 4200