Confidently hit loading targets with SmartWeigh™, John Deere’s unique payload weighing system

OVERVIEW

SmartWeigh™ is a John Deere designed and supported payload weighing solution that delivers accurate measurements, dynamic weighing capabilities, and is easy to calibrate.  For those not sold on whether or not a payload weighing solutions is a fit for your application, John Deere offers a low cost 250-hour trial period that provides you full SmartWeigh™ capabilities to help enable you to make the decision.

BENEFITS

• Leading Accuracy: SmartWeigh™ provides operators with increased accuracy (+/- 1.5 percent) because of John Deere’s expertise knowledge of our loader’s kinematic properties and exact dimensions and specifications.  This ensures near exact target weights are hit and efficiently loaded into feed mixers, trucks, hoppers, or processing plants.  This also helps prevent the loader from having to go back to the pile to get more material or to dump excess material.
• Seamless Calibration: Unlike other payload weighing systems, SmartWeigh™ does not need to be calibrated with a known weight and is designed to be easy to complete without the help of a dealer. By going through an easy-to-follow calibration process in the machine monitor, the system will be ready to accurately weigh material.
• Dynamic Weighing: There’s no need to constantly lower and reraise the boom of the loader to determine the weight after tipping off material. Bucket capture height can be set anywhere from 15-90 percent of boom height and can be captured at any boom speed.  The SmartWeigh™ system can automatically determine the new weight after tip offs, reducing the time it takes to load the exact amount of material.
• John Deere Designed and Supported: SmartWeigh™ is a John Deere designed and supported solution meaning if issues arise, the only call you need to make is to your John Deere dealer.
• JDLink™ Integrated: Integration of payload weighing data into JDLink™ means that you can access the data from nearly anywhere, not just within the cab of the machine.
• Factory and Field Kit Options: A range of options are available to equip John Deere utility loaders with SmartWeigh™ including fully integrating from the factory or adding through field kits.  The 250-hour trial period enables you to utilize SmartWeigh™ for 250 machine hours and decide if you would like to easily add on the feature for the life of the machine after the trial period expires.

SmartDetect™ – Extra Eyes to Watch Over Your Job Site 

Building on the advanced object detection technology offerings, SmartDetect is available on John Deere Utility and Production Class Loaders, as a field kit or factory install. This technology provides visual and audible alerts to the operator, to increase situational awareness of people or objects around the machine. There is also a distinct audible alarm to alert the bystander.

• Builds upon our operator centered Advanced Vision System by incorporating smart obstacle intelligence on the job site
• Featured on the in-cab display are projected path lines when in reverse; the in-cab display will also show the operator potential hazards in close proximity
• Alerts operator and bystander through distinct audible alarms
  • Operator Alerts:
    • Alerts operator of all objects behind the loader
    • Provides unique audible and visual alerts when a bystander is detected
    • Alerts triggered on speed-based zones
  • Bystander Alerts:
    • Provides a unique external alarm to warn bystanders when they are detected in close proximity

The digital footage captured consists of:

• Push notification alerts for near miss events (Received within ~30 minutes)
• Event based near miss report and corresponding video
• Weekly report of technology usage and event summary
• Event heat map summary for jobsite operation optimization and trend analysis

Auto Level enables near complete parallelism and buckets and optimized Z-Bar linkage allow you to move more material and reach higher

OVERVIEW

New P and X-tier utility loaders will now be equipped with Auto Level that enables near perfect parallelism throughout the boom raise and lower cycle.  In addition, enhanced performance buckets and Z-Bar linkage on P and X tier utility loaders are designed to enable loaders to be configured in a manner that allows them to be as productive as possible.

BENEFITS

• Auto Level can be enabled through the primary machine monitor and allows operators to set their desired attachment angle and keep that angle within +/- 2 degrees throughout the entire boom raise and lower cycle.  This minimizes load rollback when using forks or buckets to improve load leveling
  • Auto Level currently not available on machines configured with Tool Carrier linkage
  • 8 degrees of parallelism is achieved when Auto Level is disabled
• High-Lift linkage adds an additional 304.8 mm (12 in.) of hinge pin height over standard linkage
• Cross tube and boom geometry design offers improved visibility to front attachments when operating and changing out between attachments during the day
• Bucket material retention has been improved by providing a 15 degree increase in bucket rollback to reduce material spillage Curved side cutters and integrated spill guards improve bucket fill rates

All day comfort in the redesigned cab

Overview

The redesigned cab in the John Deere utility loader lineup features improvements that provide the operator a first-class work environment with a range of creature comfort options to keep operators comfortable and productive no matter the task at hand.

BENEFITS

• An additional 76.2 mm (3 in.) of leg room has been added over the previous series loaders.
• Dual tilt steering column allows for dual tilt between the column and wheel to allow operators to customize the position of the steering wheel to their needs.
• Additional 12V accessory outlets have been strategically placed for proper powering of devices and a USB port has been added for connecting to the radio.
• Auxiliary accessory mounting points are strategically placed on the right front and rear cab posts for equipment such as a payload scale interface or CB radio.
• Upgraded heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to improve cooling capacity, more precise control and increased reliability and durability. 
  • The AC unit has been relocated to the right side of the cab for easier access and service.
  • The fresh air filter exchange is made through the top of the unit located outside the cab. This allows the dirty filter to be replaced completely outside of the operator compartment.
  • Brushless motor provides infinite fan speeds, quieter operation, and increased airflow.
  • Standard blower vent behind the seat for rear window defog that is adjustable to control direction of air flow.
     
• The sealed switch module has been updated and relocated on L-series and P-tier loaders.  The new location brings the switches to the operator’s line of sight during operation for quick reference and ease of selection and has updated and new functions included.
   
  • Selecting the About button on the main menu of the monitor, then going down to sealed switch module (SSM) feature button the next screen takes you to a menu where you can view each button on the SSM and learn more about each feature.

Innovative John Deere E-Drive System delivers premium performance and efficiency

WHAT IT IS

The Electric Drive system (E-Drive) is composed of a brushless electric generator and motor, power electronics (inverter), an electric brake resistor, and a simplified PowerShift™ transmission. This E-Drive system offers next level size class performance, ease of operation, and longevity to customers that invest in this innovative technology. The entire system works to dynamically adjust engine speed to meet tractive and hydraulic loads, ensuring 644 X-tier loaders can maintain stockpiles, heap hoppers, and load trucks with the highest efficiency. All of John Deere’s E-Drive components are performance proven with over 2 million field hours accumulated and counting.

HOW IT WORKS

• Brushless generator converts rotational energy from the engine into 3-phase alternating current (AC) electrical energy
• AC energy is supplied to the inverter, which delivers energy to the motor based on operator demand
• Single brushless electric motor converts AC energy back to rotational energy and torque, replacing the job of a torque converter
• Simplified PowerShift™ transmission maintains smooth shifting across four operating speed ranges
• When decelerating, the electric motor can also act as a generator to recapture energy from the loader’s inertia and recycle it back into the system
• Brake resistor passively consumes excess recycled energy whenever the inverter actively controls its circuit

WHY IT MATTERS

• Electric motor doubling as a generator when decelerating reduces engine load and fuel consumption
• Electric motor turns transmission bi-directionally to switch from forward to reverse, eliminating directional control clutch pack from transmission and reducing shifting
• Brake resistor dissipates excess recaptured energy, reducing brake wear and lowering maintenance costs
• Maintaining a constant engine speed of 1600 rpm reduces engine wear and increases fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance
• The inverter constantly monitors all energy in the system and determines the most efficient path
• Brushless motor and generator provide quieter operation ideal for commercial and residential areas

Leading in sustainability through fuel and maintenance benefits

The 644 X-tier is the most fuel-efficient machine in its size class and in the next size class up meaning that it can move more material while burning less fuel. This allows operations to put more material through the crusher or asphalt plant while burning less fuel, providing most of its sustainability benefits. In addition, it’s design efficiencies recognize environmental impact reductions to lower carbon emissions and reduce the machine’s overall environmental impact.

• The 644 X burns up to 10 percent less fuel than competitors within its size class and up to 15 percent less fuel than competitors in the next size class up in common applications. These numbers translate into approximately 150,000 kg (330,693 lb) of CO2 that is prevented from entering the atmosphere over 15,000 machine hours, the equivalent amount of the electricity used by 11 homes over a years’ time.
• Lower volumes of oil and fluids are required when performing recommended preventative maintenance, saving up to 1,700 kg (3748 lb) of CO2 over 15,000 hours of operation compared to competitive machines. This is the equivalent of charging around 200,000 cellphones.
• Electric Drive components are designed to last in excess of 30,000 hours, meaning they can remain with the machine throughout its entire life without needing to be replaced. This extends the longevity of the machine and lowers the overall manufacturing footprint.