AccuGrade GPS (CD700) Vertical Guidance Caterpillar

Vertical guidance is given to a Design Surface. If you cannot work to the Design Surface on the first pass, you can create a working surface above or below the Design Surface. A working surface is a temporary surface which is related to the original design. The types of working surfaces that are available depend on the type of design that is loaded. A working surface can be defined by one of the following methods:

Design Surface
Predefined Reference Surface
layered lift surface (for *.dc road files only)
perpendicular lift surface
vertical lift surface

Note: Only one working surface method can be selected for guidance at any time. Vertical Offsets can then be applied to any working surface.

Once you select the appropriate working surface method, vertical guidance is provided to the working surface. The Vertical Offset is then relative to the working surface. Illustration 1 shows the relationship between the Design Surface, a working surface, and a temporary working surface created using a Vertical Offset.

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Illustration 1	g01104985
Relationship between the Design Surface, a working surface and a temporary working surface

Note: The Vertical Offset value is suitable for temporary offsets. These offsets define an immediate surface to be built. The Vertical Offset value should always reduce to zero to achieve the working surface.

The appearance of the "Vertical Offset Value" Soft Key depends on the working surface type that is currently selected. Refer to Table 1.

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Table 1
Soft Key	Description
V. Offset: Compact1 ⁽¹⁾	A named Reference Surface is selected as the working surface. The name of the Reference Surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offsets is applied to the Reference Surface.
V. Offset: LL -5.400 ⁽²⁾	A layered lift has been applied to the Design Surface to create a working surface. The offset from the design to the layered lift surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the layered lift surface.
V. Offset: PL +1.500 ⁽³⁾	A perpendicular lift has been applied to the Design Surface in order to create a working surface. The perpendicular offset from the design to the perpendicular lift surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the perpendicular lift surface.
"V. Offset: +0.500m"	The Design Surface is selected as the working surface. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the Design Surface.
"Compact1: +0.000m"	A named Reference Surface is selected as the working surface. The name of the Reference Surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offsets is applied to the Reference Surface.
"LL −5.400 +0.000m"	A layered lift has been applied to the Design Surface to create a working surface. The offset from the design to the layered lift surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the layered lift surface.
"PL +1.500 +0.000m"	A perpendicular lift has been applied to the Design Surface to create a working surface. The perpendicular offset from the design to the perpendicular lift surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the perpendicular lift surface.
"VL + 1.500 +0.000m"	A vertical lift has been applied to the Design Surface to create a working surface. The offset from the design to the vertical lift surface appears on the top line. Any Vertical Offset is applied to the vertical lift surface.

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^( 1 )	The "+0.000m" is then displayed on the status bar.
^( 2 )	The "-5.400m" is then displayed on the status bar.
^( 3 )	The "+1.500m" is then displayed on the status bar.

Selecting a Design Surface

Note: The software for the AccuGrade System automatically loads the last design that was used, if that design is present on the data card.

In order to load a design complete the following steps:

From any guidance view, press Menu until "Design:" is displayed.

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Illustration 2	g01296974

Press "Design:" in order to access the Select Design File dialog.
A dialog that is similar to Illustration 2 appears.

Press the up arrow or the down arrow in order to highlight a design.

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Illustration 3	g01296970

Press the "OK" key in order to load the design. If the loaded design specifies only a single Design Surface, then you will be returned to the guidance view. If the loaded design is a 3D Lines design, which may specify multiple Design Surfaces, then a dialog similar to Illustration 3 appears.

Selecting a 3D Line For Horizontal Guidance

A 3D Lines design contains one or more 3D lines. The 3D line that will be used for vertical guidance is selected using the Select 3D Guidance Line dialog. This dialog allows you to graphically select a 3D line for horizontal and vertical guidance. One or more 3D lines are available for selection, but only one line can be selected at a time to give guidance. When you load a 3D Lines design, the 3D line that is closest to the position of the machine is automatically selected.

Note: When the "Select 3D Guidance Line" dialog appears, the cross-hairs appear in place of the machine icon. If the machine does not have a valid position, the cross-hairs appear at the center of the Plan View.

In order to select a 3D line complete the following steps:

From the "Select 3D Guidance Line" dialog, move the cross-hairs to the 3D line that you require. Use any of the following tools to move the crosshairs:
- Use the arrow keys in order to move the cross-hairs around the screen
- Press "+" key and "-" key in order to zoom the current view in and out
- Press the "Zoom Target" Soft Key in order to resize the current view to the immediate area around the cross-hairs
- Press the "Zoom All" Soft Key in order to view all of the linework
- Press the "Zoom Selection" Soft Key in order to view the extents of the selected 3D line
All linework for the design, including the site map and any avoidance zones, are shown on this dialog. You can only select a line that is a 3D line.
If several lines are grouped closely, press the "Zoom Target" Soft Key in order to zoom in for easier selection. Alternatively, move the cross-hairs to an area where the lines are more easily seen.
In order to move the cross-hairs large distances across the screen, zoom out and then hold down an arrow key. This lets you move rapidly across the design.

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Illustration 4	g01296970

Press the "Select" Soft Key in order to select the 3D line for horizontal and vertical guidance. The line closest to the center of the cross-hairs is selected. The selected 3D line appears as a thick red line. Refer to Illustration 4.

Selecting a different 3D line from a 3D Lines design

If you want to select a new 3D line for guidance from the 3D Lines design that is currently loaded, complete the following steps:

Press the Menu key until the "H. Setup" Soft Key is displayed.

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Illustration 5	g01296958

Press the "H. Setup" Soft Key. The "Horizontal Setup" Screen appears:

Press the "Alignment:" Soft Key.
The "Guide to Alignment" Screen will appear.

Press the up arrow or the down arrow in order to highlight (3D Line).

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Illustration 6	g01296954

Press the "OK" key. The "Select 3D Guidance Line" screen appears.

Follow the steps outlined in "Selecting A 3D Line For Vertical Guidance" in order to select the 3D line that you require.

Setting The Width of The 3D Line

The Design Surface defined by a 3D line depends on the extents of the design boundary. In order to set the width of the design, use the "Set Design Width" dialog.

In order to set the width of a 3D line Design Surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 7	g01296954

From the Select 3D Guidance Line, press "Set Width". A screen that is similar to Illustration 7 appears.
This dialog allows you enter the width of the Design Surface defined by the selected 3D line. Vertical guidance is given to the entered design width. The design width creates the design boundary which appears as a gray line around the selected 3D line.

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Illustration 8	g01296950

Press arrow keys in order to enter the design width.

Press the "OK" key. The "Select 3D Guidance Line" dialog reappears.

Extending a 3D line

The Design Surface defined by a 3D line depends on the extent of the design boundary. The length of the design may be extended using the Extend 3D Line dialog.

In order to extend the length of the selected 3D line, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 9	g01296949

From the "Select 3D Guidance Line" dialog, press "Extend Length". A screen that is similar to Illustration 9 appears.

Perform one of the following functions:
- the arrow keys in order to enter an extension to the end of the selected line identified with an "A"
- Press "+0.500" or "-0.500" in order to increase or decrease the extension by 0.500 m.
- Press "Set 0.000" in order to reset the extension to zero.

Press the Next Key and repeat Step 2 in order to enter an extension to the end of the selected line that is identified with a "B".

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Illustration 10	g01296971
Graphical Selection screen (A) Extension to A (B) Extension to B

Press the "OK" key. The graphical selection screen that is shown in Illustration 10 reappears:
When an extension is applied to the selected 3D line, a tick mark appears on the 3D line to show where the extension starts. The AccuGrade System calculates guidance to the 3D line extension by extending the existing 3D line. The existing 3D line is extended with the same direction and grade as the last segment, and by the distance that you entered.

Creating a Working Surface

The working surface is set from the "Elevation Offset" dialog. To access the "Elevation Offset" dialog complete the following steps:

From any of the guidance views, press the "Menu" key until one of the Vertical Offset Soft Keys that are described in Table 1 appears.

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Illustration 11	g01296973

Press the "V. Offset" Soft Key. An "Elevation Offset" dialog that is similar to Illustration 11 appears.

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Illustration 12	g01296969

Press the "Working Surface" Soft Key in order to change the working surface. A dialog that is similar to Illustration 12 appears.

Press the "Working Surface" Soft Key.

The "Design Surface", "Reference Surface", "Layered Lift", "Perpendicular Lift", or "Vertical Lift" dialog appears when you press the corresponding Soft Key. Depending on the type of design that is loaded, the following options may be available in the "Working Surface" dialog:
"Design Surface" - This function is always available. This is the default working surface when a design is loaded.
"Reference Surface" - This function is only available if Reference Surfaces have been created for the design with the AccuGrade Office Software.
"Layered Lift" - This function is only available if the current Design Surface is a .DC road design file.
"Perpendic. Lift" - This function is always available.
"Vertical Lift" - This function is always available.
Press the "OK" key in order to accept the chosen working surface and return to the Elevation Offset dialog.

Selecting The Design Surface As The Working Surface

When a Design Surface is loaded, the Design Surface is the working surface. In order to set the Design Surface as the working surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 13	g01296969

From the "Working Surface" dialog, press the "Design Surface" Soft Key and then press the "OK" key in order to set the Design Surface as the working surface.

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Illustration 14	g01296945

The Vertical Offset value is used to set a temporary Vertical Offset that is above or below the current working surface.

Press the "OK" key in order to apply the Vertical Offset and return to the guidance screen.
With the Design Surface selected as the working surface, the Cross Section view will show the following line:
- Design Surface appears as a red line
If a Vertical Offset is temporarily applied to the vertical lift, the Cross Section view will show the following lines:
- Vertical Offset appears as a red line
- Design Surface appears as a black line

Selecting A Reference Surface As The Working Surface

A design may contain any number of Reference Surfaces.

Reference Surfaces are created in the office with the AccuGrade Office Software.

In order to set a Reference Surface as the working surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 15	g01296956

From the "Working Surface" dialog, press the "Reference Surface" Soft Key. A dialog that is similar to Illustration 15 appears. The dialog lists the Reference Surfaces that are available for the design.
The value beside each Reference Surface indicates how far above or below the Design Surface the Reference Surface is. A negative value indicates that the reference is below the original Design Surface. A positive value indicates that the Reference Surface is above the original Design Surface.

Press the Up arrow or the Down arrow in order to highlight a Reference Surface.

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Illustration 16	g01296961

Press the "OK" key in order to select the Reference Surface as the working surface and return to the "Elevation Offset" dialog.
The Reference Surface name and offset are shown in a dialog that is similar to Illustration 16.

The Vertical Offset value is used to set a temporary Vertical Offset above or below the current working surface.

Press the "OK" key in order to apply the Vertical Offset and return to the guidance screen.

With a Reference Surface selected as the working surface, the Cross Section View and Profile View will show the following lines:

The Reference Surface appears as a red line. Refer to Illustration 17.
The Design Surface appears as a light gray line. Refer to Illustration 17.

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Illustration 17	g01429620
Cross Section view with a Reference Surface loaded. (1) Design Surface (2) Reference Surface (Compact 1) (3) User-Defined Name (Compact 1)

If a Vertical Offset is temporarily applied to the Reference Surface, the Cross Section view will show the following items:

The Reference Surface appears as a black line. Refer to Illustration 18.
The Design Surface appears as a light gray line. Refer to Illustration 18.
The Vertical Offset appears as a red line. Refer to Illustration 18.
Vertical Offset Soft Key indicates the selected Reference Surface name – in this example, "compact1" (Reference Surface names are assigned in the AccuGrade Office Software).

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Illustration 18	g01429630
Cross Section view of a road with a Reference Surface loaded and a Vertical Offset. (4) Design Surface (5) Working surface (6) Vertical Offset (7) Reference Surface

Setting A Layered Lift As The Working Surface

When building roads, the layered lift feature enables the operator to build a road to the full width of the sideslopes in lifts. The lifts are a specified thickness. Layered lifts are useful when building up large fills or cutting down cuttings.

About Layered Lifts

Note: The Layered Lift only works for road files with a .dc format.

The AccuGrade System uses a layered lift to define a working surface that is relative to the currently loaded road design. The AccuGrade System calculates the layered lift as shown in the following Illustrations.

The value that is entered as the layered lift is used to raise or lower the master alignment of the road. See Illustration 19.

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Illustration 19	g01107581
Master alignment - lowered

The first non-vertical design elements on the left and right sides of the master alignment are extended until the original Design Surface is intersected. See Illustration 20.

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Illustration 20	g01107582
First elements

Illustration 21 shows the case where the road surface needs to be built up (that is, the sideslopes set to fill). In this case, the layered lift value will be negative.

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Illustration 21	g01107583
Working surface

When you are cutting down to the road surface, the process is similar except that you enter the lift height above the master alignment (that is, a positive layered lift). See Illustration 22.

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Illustration 22	g01107584

Creating a Layered Lift

To create a layered lift for use as the working surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 23	g01296947

From the "Working Surface" dialog, press the "Layered Lift" Soft Key. Refer to Illustration 23.
Note: The "Layered Lift" dialog has two different diagrams according to if the road sideslopes are set to cut or fill. In this example, the sideslopes are set to Cut.

Press the "OK" key in order to select a layered lift as the working surface and return to the "Elevation Offset" dialog.

Press the Next Key until the "Layered Lift" field is highlighted.

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Illustration 24	g01296957

In order to change the "Layered Lift" value, perform one of the following actions:
- Use the arrow keys
- Press "+0.50" in order to add that amount to the current value
- Press "-0.50" in order to subtract that amount from the current value

The Vertical Offset value is used to set a temporary Vertical Offset above or below the current working surface.

Press the "OK" key in order to apply the Vertical Offset and return to the guidance screen.

With a layered lift selected as the working surface, the Cross Section view shows the following lines:

The layered lift appears as a red line
The original design appears as a light gray line

If you temporarily apply a Vertical Offset to the layered lift, the Cross Section view shows the following lines:

The Vertical Offset is shown with a red line
The Design Surface appears as a light gray line
The layered lift surface appears with black line

Setting A Perpendicular Lift As The Working Surface

Some special applications require a specified thickness of material to be laid over a Design Surface. By using perpendicular lifts, the thickness of material is consistent on the slopes and level sections of a design.

Illustration 25 is a Cross Section view which shows a perpendicular lift applied to a design.

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Illustration 25	g01107587
Perpendicular lift

In order to create a perpendicular lift for use as the working surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 26	g01296962

From the "Working Surface" dialog, press "Perpendicular Lift". Refer to Illustration 25.

Press the "OK" key in order to select a perpendicular lift as the working surface and return to the "Elevation Offset" dialog.

Press the Next Key until the "Perpendicular Lift" field is highlighted.

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Illustration 27	g01296965

In order to change the "Perpendicular Lift" value, do one of the following:
- Use the arrow keys
- Press "+0.50" in order to add that amount to the current value
- Press "-0.50" in order to subtract that amount from the current value

The Vertical Offset value is used to set a temporary Vertical Offset above or below the current working surface.

Press the "OK" key in order to apply the Vertical Offset and return to the guidance screen.

With a perpendicular lift selected as the working surface, the Cross Section view shows the following lines:

Perpendicular lift surface appears as a red line
Design Surface appears as a light gray line

If a Vertical Offset is temporarily applied to the perpendicular lift, the Cross Section view will show the following lines:

Vertical Offset appears as a red line
Perpendicular lift surface appears as a black line
Design Surface appears as a light gray line

Setting A Vertical Lift As The Working Surface

A vertical lift is essentially the same as a Vertical Offset. A vertical lift is used to specify large offsets, while a Vertical Offset is better for small, temporary offsets. Vertical lifts are useful when the design requires bulk cut or fill. The design can be cut or built up in stages by working to different vertical lift surfaces until the site approaches the final Design Surface. When the site is close to design, the Vertical Offset can be applied to the original Design Surface.

A vertical lift surface becomes the working surface. Illustration 28 shows a Cross Section view with a vertical lift applied to a design consisting of level and sloping surfaces. The thickness of material is less on the sloping surface than on the level surface.

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Illustration 28	g01107590
Vertical lift

In order to create a vertical lift for use as the working surface, complete the following steps:

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Illustration 29	g01296952

From the "Working Surface" dialog, press the "Vertical Lift" Soft Key. Refer to Illustration 28.

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Illustration 30	g01296967

Press the "OK" key in order to set a vertical lift as the working surface. The "Elevation Offset" dialog appears. Refer to Illustration 29.

Press the Next Key until the "Vertical Lift" field is highlighted.

To change the Vertical Lift value, perform one of the following actions:
- Use the arrow keys
- Press "+0.50" in order to add that amount to the current value
- Press "-0.50" in order to subtract that amount from the current value

The Vertical Offset value is used to set a temporary Vertical Offset above or below the current working surface.

Press the "OK" key in order to apply the Vertical Offset and return to the guidance screen.

Cross Section View will show the following lines:

Vertical lift surface appears as a red line
Design Surface appears as a light gray line

If a Vertical Offset is temporarily applied to the vertical lift, the Cross Section View will show the following lines:

Vertical Offset appears as a red line
Vertical lift surface appears as a black line
Design Surface appears as a light gray line

Setting a Vertical Offset

Vertical Offsets:

can be applied to any working surface
no names are given to offsets

A Vertical Offset can be entered by using:

The Elevation Offset dialog
The Vertical Offset increment switch

To manually set a Vertical Offset:

From any of the guidance views, press the "Menu" key until one of the Vertical Offset Soft Keys that is described in Table 1 appears.

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Illustration 31	g01296945

Press the "V. Offset: <Value>" Soft Key or a similar key that is shown in Table 1. An "Elevation Offset" dialog similar to Illustration 31 will appear:

In order to enter a Vertical Offset, do one of the following actions:
- Use the arrow keys
- Press "+0.05" in order to add that amount to the current value
- Press "-0.05" in order to subtract that amount from the current value

Press the "+/- (Above/Below)" Soft Key in order to select the offset direction. Guidance below the working surface shows as a negative value. Guidance above the working surface shows as a positive value.