Cat 631E and 637E scraper tooling samples

Our first tooling samples for the 631E and 637E scraper models in 1:48 scale just came in! Now that we've finished with our production review, we can share a few photos. Look for more on our website in the next few days.

Cat 5230's are shipping now

The first 98 of the 1:87 scale Cat 5230 Front Shovel and Mass Excavator models have arrived in our warehouse and are shipping out fast. Here's a few images of the Mass Excavator so you can see the detail on this amazing brass model. Notice the finely-detailed catwalks and other attention to craft in this stunning piece of Caterpillar history.

5230's in their collector boxes awaiting shipment

Marion 6360 in blue and white

Here's the "The Captain" in the colors it was painted up until the mid 1980's after the Captain mine was purchased by Arch Coal. Of our limited production run of 125 models, 20 were painted in this scheme. We think it looks amazing. Enjoy!

Model Announcement: Cat PL87 Pipelayer

We are very pleased to announce our die-cast model of the Cat PL87 Pipelayer in 1:48 precision scale. CCM has produced a limited edition specially for PipeLine Machinery International (PLM) of 400, and we are offering an additional 350 models to the public.

The model comes in a collectors box and includes an individually serial-numbered machine brochure reproduction as certificate of authenticity. See more model details here: ccmodels.com/upcoming-PL87.html

Available for shipping in early December. To order yours, give us a call at 503-626-6395.

D9L Samples Are Here

Our pre-production samples of the D9L versions have arrived and we couldn't be happier. Some minor changes will be made, but we wanted to give you a look at their progress. More photos and updates will be posted to our site soon. See what you think.

D9L Track-Type Tractor With Impact Ripper

Rear view D9L Track-Type Tractor With Impact Ripper

Detail of opening doors D9L Track-Type Tractor With Impact Ripper

D9L Track-Type Tractor Push Version

Rear view D9L Track-Type Tractor Push Version

CCM Behind the Scenes: Model Samples

When our 3D files are sent to the manufacturer they must complete the tedious and time consuming process of reviewing the files and making revisions. This can take up to a month as they must ensure the drawings represent parts that can be made in the next step of production which is tooling.

Once the drawings are  reviewed and approved they are used to make the tooling and from that tooling comes our first hand sample. Depending on the end product, that sample could be a resin rapid prototype printed on a 3D printer, a “first shot” in die-cast metal or a completed model in brass. At this stage the sample is usually not painted to allow us a closer examination of the overall quality. At this point, we check to make sure pistons hold position, wheels or tracks turn smoothly and the overall appearance of the model is correct.

Given the complexity of our models, it’s not uncommon to find that something has been overlooked or misinterpreted at this time. Above is a photo of the 992C Wheel Loader hand sample. You’ll notice the first version of the handrails in plastic that were later changed to metal because they didn’t meet our standards. If you look closely you’ll also see the winged foot in the Good Year logo on the tires is missing. When our review is complete we send our comments back to the manufacturer and wait for them to make the changes and send us another sample.

In the picture above you can see how the cylinders were painted along with the rest of the machine. Obviously not acceptable. Other changes required on these models included adjusting the hinge mechanisms on the bucket and filling a hole on the stick of the front shovel that was in the drawings but not on the real machine.

When the second sample arrives we again conduct a very rigorous and thorough inspection. This model will have full paint and markings which must be inspected and reviewed and at this point little things like the silver paint on the model above get noted and corrected. At this time, we typically receive a sample of the packaging to ensure it meets the required standards.

We understand the time line for the completion of a model is a long one—up to year in most cases—and although we wish it could be shorter, the reality of the work required to make a high-quality, limited edition model is always going to be laborious. Despite the challenges, we are addicted to the reward that comes when you tell us all our work was worth the effort as you simply love your CCM models.

In our next “Behind the Scenes” we’ll take a look at getting the machine markings on the models

Iron Profile: Caterpillar 777 Off-Highway Haul Truck

Introduced by Caterpillar in 1974, the 777 became one of the company’s most popular line of off-highway haul trucks. Building on their experience with the 769B and 773 trucks, the 777 continued the successful mechanical-drive haulers into the 85 ton class. This truck featured the 870-flywheel-horsepower D348, V-12 diesel engine, and low weight-to-horsepower ratio. With the seven-speed planetary transmission, this power was put to good use, typically in mining and large earthmoving projects.

The 777 had a newly designed front end, ROPS cab and engine deck. This allowed much easier in-frame servicing by technicians, and was so successful it continues to be the basic design used today. The ride over rough quarry roads was made smooth by four huge oil-pneumatic suspension cylinders. The two front cylinders acted as steering kingpins for a short turning radius in tight loading spots. The 777 could make a clearance turning circle in 88 feet.

The Cat 777 body had the same familiar features that proved so reliable and durable on the 769B and 773 trucks: dual-sloped dump bed designed for retaining heaped loads up steep inclines, wrap-around ribs for added strength, steel corner castings and rolled steel toprail sections to reinforce critical stress areas, and a low loading height. The ten box-sectioned ribs also had the unique feature of funneling engine exhaust to heat the bed for easier dumping of sticky materials in cold weather.

So successful was this haul truck it found itself developed by Caterpillar into an off-highway tractor called the 776. This powerful tractor proved versatile enough to become popular in variations modified to suit a wide spectrum of needs. High-capacity dump bodies, coal haulers, and heavy equipment trailers—all have seen use.

The 777 series truck has continued over the years to its current version, the 777G, with new advances in technology refining its weight class. For almost three decades this hauler has proven itself one of Caterpillar’s most durable and successful trucks.
 

SPECIFICATIONS:
Horsepower, flywheel — 870 (649 kW)
Total empty weight —122,600 lb. (55,610 kg)
Loaded weight to Hp ratio (with standard options) — 336:1
Capacity, tons — 85 (77t)
Cubic yards, struck (SAE) — 47.5 (36 m³)
Cubic yards, heaped 2:1 (SAE) — 67.1 (51 m³)
Transmission — 7 range automatic power shift with 1 reverse range.
Top speed loaded — 33 MPH (53 km/h)

CCM Behind the Scenes: Designing the 3D Model

Once we’ve collected all the research materials that we'll use to develop our next model of a construction machine—including diagrams, photos, manufacturer’s CAD files, and our model survey measurements—our product designers begin work on the 3D model. This is a computer-rendered, three dimensional file that will be used by our manufacturers to produce the tooling necessary for casting the production models.

Depending on the complexity of the machine, the design of the 3D model can take a month or more. A company such as Caterpillar will usually have CAD plans of their current equipment that we can use as a base. These are often incredibly complex, containing plans for wiring, hydraulics and every last bolt. We carefully strip away everything until we have just the amount of detail that will survive the transition to a 1:24, 1:48 or 1:87 scale model.

If it’s a vintage machine, such as our Cat 992C, the 3D model is painstakingly developed from scratch. This is where our survey comes in really handy. What does the bottom of that transfer case look like? Good thing we like to get under the real equipment to find out!

During this process we also determine important things like how the doors will hinge, tracks and booms will function, and even where we’ll hide the screws. We design in a program called SolidWorks, which helps our product developers to simulate materials, fasteners, and moving parts—all before we send the plans out for tooling to be made.

When our 3D model is finished we’ll all review it along with the equipment engineers for inconsistencies with the real machine. We’ll also have historians expert in construction equipment take a look to see if there might be something we overlooked. It's all in the details, after all.

A physical mockup of the scale model might be done at this point on our rapid-prototyping 3D printer in resin. This allows for function testing and more fine adjustments to be made to the parts before we send the plans to the manufacturer.

Next, we await the tooling sample.

Cat 5230 model in production, both versions

Here's a few more photos of our upcoming 5230 in production. It's looking great even without paint. For the first time you can also get a comparison of the Front Shovel alongside the Mass Excavator version. Enjoy!

Cat 5230 model in production

We thought you might enjoy an update on our 5230 1:87 scale brass model. These photos show some of the sub-assemblies in production.