When a project requires precise trench width, a flat bottom, straight sidewalls, and no large over-excavation, a milling head for excavator usually has advantages over traditional breaking methods. A professional chain cutter for excavator uses rotating pick teeth to continuously cut into the material, allowing continuous cutting without left-right swinging for re-cutting. Its no-blind-spot design reduces the middle residue of the milling head and helps workers quickly form a trench that matches the working width of the equipment.
What is Chain Cutter for Excavator?
Chain cutter for excavator is a third-generation rock milling attachment for excavators. It uses a chain-driven transmission structure to drive the milling head in continuous rotary cutting. Compared with traditional vertical-shaft or horizontal-shaft milling heads, the biggest breakthrough of the chain design is “no blind spot” – the picks are evenly distributed along the closed chain, so one cut fully covers the entire milling width without leaving a ridge at the bottom. There is no need for multiple passes like vertical-shaft types, and it also solves the old problem of incomplete centre cutting found in horizontal-shaft types. At the same time, the cutting direction of the chain-type milling head is parallel to the excavator boom, inheriting the precise directional control of vertical-shaft models while also achieving the wide-width one-pass coverage of horizontal-shaft models. Both trench width and depth can be accurately controlled. In addition, the cutting force of the chain structure is evenly distributed along the whole chain, causing much less impact on the excavator boom than the single-point concentrated force of vertical-shaft and horizontal-shaft types. This extends the life of the host machine and also makes pick wear more uniform, reducing the replacement frequency of individual picks and overall operating costs.
Popular Drum Cutter Machine Model Parameters
The following models are suitable for different excavator tonnages and working intensities. The final installation plan needs to be confirmed based on the excavator brand, auxiliary hydraulic system, connection dimensions, working material, and project requirements.
| Technical Parameter | YG-700 | YG-1400 | YG-2200 |
| Maximum power | 70 kW | 140 kW | 220 kW |
| Maximum displacement | 240 ml/r | 450 ml/r | 600 ml/r |
| Motor rated pressure | 28 MPa | 28 MPa | 28 MPa |
| Maximum output torque | 12,000 N·m | 33,000 N·m | 38,000 N·m |
| Working flow | 180–240 L/min | 290–330 L/min | 480–540 L/min |
| Working speed | 70 r/min | 60 r/min | 70 r/min |
| Machine weight | 3,100 kg | 3,300 kg | 3,500 kg |
| Number of picks | 107 pcs | 107 pcs | 107 pcs |
| Pick specification | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Suitable excavator | 18–23 t | 35–45 t | 45–70 t |
YG-700: For 18–23 ton excavators
YG-700 has a maximum power of 70 kW, maximum output torque of 12,000 N·m, recommended working flow of 180–240 L/min, and fits 18–23-ton excavators.
This model is suitable for trenching, rock trimming, foundation excavation, concrete milling, and medium-strength material processing with medium-sized excavators. For urban utility projects, roadside ditches, building renovations, and jobs with limited space, YG-700 provides a good balance between efficiency and host machine compatibility.
YG-1400: For 35–45 ton excavators
YG-1400 has a maximum power of 140 kW, maximum output torque up to 33,000 N·m, a working flow of 290–330 L/min, and fits 35–45-ton excavators.
This model is designed for higher-strength and larger-scale milling needs, suitable for tunnel trimming, trenching in harder rock layers, large concrete structure demolition, mine slope treatment, and infrastructure projects. The higher torque output improves continuous working capability in medium-hard rock and complex strata.
YG-2200: For 45–70 ton excavators
YG-2200 has a maximum power of 220 kW, maximum output torque of 38,000 N·m, working flow range of 480–540 L/min, and fits 45–70-ton large excavators.
For large tunnel projects, mining, high-intensity rock milling, heavy road construction, and large-section trenching, YG-2200 provides stronger hydraulic power matching and continuous cutting capacity. This model is suitable for heavy-load projects with a sufficient host hydraulic system, high working intensity, and long-term stable operation requirements.
4 Major Advantages of YG Chain Cutter for Excavator
A high-quality drum cutter machine is not just a tool for “cutting rock” – it is also an important device for improving construction accuracy, reducing rework, and expanding the application range of excavators. For contractors who need controlled excavation in hard materials, a milling head can replace some blasting, breaker, and manual trimming operations.
High torque output, suitable for hard materials
This series of milling heads uses imported high-torque hydraulic motors, imported bearings and oil seals, combined with a high-strength spur gear transmission, to provide stable power for continuous milling operations. The equipment can be used on rock with compressive strength up to about 90 MPa, suitable for soft rock, medium-hard rock, some hard rock, and high-strength concrete.
High torque is not just about increasing “cutting force” – more importantly, it keeps the equipment running steadily in complex strata. In rock interlayers, near concrete reinforcement, fractured rock, or uneven media, stable torque helps reduce sticking, jumping, and uneven cutting.
No-blind-spot design for more accurate trench forming
This product uses a new no-blind-spot design that effectively fills the cutting gap in the middle of ordinary milling heads. During construction, there is no need to swing left and right frequently – continuous and smooth milling can be completed, forming a more regular trench profile.
This design is especially suitable for the following tasks:
- Bottom and sidewall trimming of utility trenches
- Cable trenches, fibre-optic trenches, and communication pipeline trench construction
- Tunnel arch, sidewall, and floor profile trimming
- Concrete wall, foundation, and slope surface treatment
- Rock excavation projects that require strict control of over-excavation
At the same time, the trench width will not exceed the working width of the milling head itself, helping to reduce unnecessary over-excavation, backfilling, and material waste.
Low-vibration operation protects surrounding structures
In urban renovation, underground works, historic building restoration, bridge foundations, and jobs near existing pipelines, vibration control is often more important than pure breaking speed. The milling head cuts material by continuous rotation rather than high-frequency impact, reducing disturbance to surrounding structures and strata.
For projects where blasting is not allowed, breaker use is restricted, or noise and vibration are strictly controlled, the milling head for excavator provides a more controllable construction method.
Supports underwater operation
With proper configuration and maintenance, this series of milling heads can be used in underwater environments, suitable for river training, port foundations, bridge piers, dam repair, underwater rock removal, and other water-related projects.
Underwater construction places higher demands on sealing, bearing protection, hydraulic system matching, and daily maintenance. Therefore, the equipment uses imported bearing oil seal structures to help improve the reliability of key rotating parts in complex working conditions.
Typical Applications of Chain Cutter for Excavator
- Mining: precise cutting of hard rock in open-pit or underground mines, replacing blasting, reducing disturbance to surrounding rock, and improving ore grade and recovery rate
- Tunnelling: profile trimming and excavation of highway, railway, and subway tunnels, precise contour control, reducing over-break and under-break, and lowering support costs
- Trench excavation: linear trenching for water conservancy, municipal utilities, cable trenches, etc., one-pass forming with efficiency far exceeding breakers
- Building demolition and renovation: precise demolition of concrete structures with low vibration and low noise, suitable for dense urban areas and protected historical building demolition
- Road construction: subgrade excavation, slope trimming, rock pavement milling, etc. – the milling head for excavator can accurately shape according to design gradients
- Underwater work: river dredging, port dredging, underwater foundation excavation, etc. – the equipment has reliable sealing and does not need extra waterproof modification
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Frequently Asked Questions about Chain Cutter for Excavator
Q1: How hard rock can the chain cutter for excavator handle?
The YG series can be applied to rock with compressive strength up to 90 MPa (about f=18), covering most common rock layers in engineering, including granite, basalt, and quartzite.
Q2: What are the advantages of a milling head for excavator over a breaker?
milling head for excavator performs continuous cutting with high precision, low vibration, and low noise, and can accurately control the excavation profile. A breaker uses impact crushing, which is less efficient and tends to cause over-excavation. For projects that need precise forming, the milling head has clear advantages.
Q3: How long do the picks last? Are they easy to replace?
The standard picks are 30mm specification, with 107 picks per machine. The picks are made of wear-resistant alloy material and have a long service life under normal working conditions. The picks use a modular quick-change design, so they can be replaced quickly on site without delaying progress.
Q4: What about delivery and after-sales?
Regular models are in stock and can be shipped within 7-15 days after payment. We provide a 1-year whole-machine warranty and global spare parts support.
Q5: How to choose the right drum cutter for sale?
You should confirm the excavator tonnage, auxiliary hydraulic flow, working pressure, return oil back pressure, host power, material hardness, working depth, required trench width, and construction environment. It is recommended to provide the excavator model and hydraulic parameters for our technicians to do the matching selection.
Choosing a Reliable Drum Cutter for Sale Supplier
When purchasing a drum cutter for sale, the equipment price itself is only one factor in the decision. A professional supplier should be able to provide technical support for matching with the excavator host, including hydraulic parameter confirmation, installation dimension design, oil circuit configuration advice, pick selection, after-sales parts supply, and operation and maintenance guidance.
A properly matched chain cutter for excavator can help construction teams achieve more stable cutting efficiency, neater construction profiles, and lower rework costs in rock, concrete, and complex strata.
If you are looking for a drum cutter machine for 18–70 ton excavators, welcome to contact YG. Provide your excavator model, hydraulic flow, working pressure, material type, and construction requirements, and we will recommend a suitable solution for you.
