Difference Between Cold Planer and Asphalt Milling Machine
Road development and rehabilitation experts always search for well-performing pavement resurfacing machines. The cold planer and the asphalt milling machine are always in the spotlight. Read this article on the difference between a cold planer and a milling machine for more precise selection. At first glance, both machines look the […] The post Difference Between Cold Planer and Asphalt Milling Machine appeared first on Used Equipment.
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Road development and rehabilitation experts always search for well-performing pavement resurfacing machines. The cold planer and the asphalt milling machine are always in the spotlight. Read this article on the difference between a cold planer and a milling machine for more precise selection.
At first glance, both machines look the same; however, the reality is completely different. Indeed, the primary function of both is to remove asphalt layers. In a more precise way, the cold planners remove the asphalt with a mechanical grinding process without melting it. In contrast, the milling machines cover a broader range with more cutting depths and unique configurations.
- Cold Planers for Sale in HOUSTON TEXAS
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What is a Cold Planer?
Most simply, the cold milling machine is a heavy-duty and robust asset used to remove old and damaged top layers of asphalt. Lately, the collected asphalt has been ground and mixed to be reused. The process is completed without heating the asphalt material. “Cold” symbolizes the process without heating to conserve the pavement material’s integrity.
How It Works
The cold planer has a large rotary drum with thousands of carbide-tipped cutting blades and several teeth. The drum’s speed and position can be adjusted to control the milling speed and depth.
Reclaimed asphalt is shifted to hoppers and chambers with a conveyor belt and ground to make a uniform mixture. Chemical stabilizers and additives are added to improve the recycled surface’s strength.
Key Features
Precision Control: The cold planers have a smart sensor and automatic grading control to achieve millimeter-level accuracy in material removal.
Eco-Friendly Operation: When no heating process is involved, it reduces air emissions. Moreover, the on-site removal and recovery of damaged asphalt layers saves time and resources.
Versatility in Size: Planers are available in different sizes and specifications with compact, standard, and large designs. Compact models are ideal for urban streets and home parking garages.
Material Reuse: The deteriorated pavements are removed up to a specific depth and mechanically converted into usable material again. This aspect promotes greener road construction and sustainable growth.
Common Applications
- The developers scratch out the damaged pavements before pouring the fresh materials.
- It can be used in leveling the ground surfaces
- Milling patches for utility pipe installations
- transitional or curved milling at corners and slopes
- Transition or taper milling at intersections and ramps
- Change the texture of the asphalt surface to make it more skid-resistant
What is an Asphalt Milling Machine?
An asphalt milling machine is a more generalized and broader term that covers cold planers and all other machines involved in repairing asphalt pavements. This mechanically operated equipment sometimes uses a heating method to make the asphalt reusable again.
In modern construction practices, cold planers are the latest versions of asphalt milling machines. Asphalt milling machines are simple in design, with manual grading systems and less adaptability for partial-depth surface texturing.
General Features
- They have a rotary drum with cutting blades like a cold planer.
- Manage thin slicing or complete removal of pavements.
- Available in different sizes, configurations, and parameters.
Which is the Best?
For construction professionals and municipal authorities, the selection between the two depends on some factors.
Budgeting: The cold planer is the ultimate solution when you need to complete the process quickly. However, it is more expensive than a milling machine.
Work Needs: A cold planer is essential for more precise pavement removal, contouring, micro-milling, or large-area resurfacing.
Material Recovery: The reclaimed or collected material with cold planers is more refined and needs less processing to reuse it again.
Scale of Operation: Milling machines easily handle small-scale projects and patchwork. On the other hand, cold planers excel in major highway, runway, and parking lot projects.
Difference Between Cold Planers and Asphalt Milling Machines
The standard answer is no; there is no difference between the two. However, when reviewed more technically, the cold planers are more precise and advanced versions of milling machines.
Cold Planer: GPS/Laser-Guided
Cold planers are the way to go for the desired efficiency when managing a large-scale paving task. Indeed, their traction system with tracks or rubber tires allows them to move safely on construction sites.
- The minute depth control, even on sloping surfaces, is achieved with the help of GPS or laser-guided movements.
- The asphalt removal and automatic leveling are adjusted according to terrain and project needs.
- For targeted cutting, you can program the machining routes with specific commands.
The Wirtgen W 210 Fi is the most reliable cold planer at Mico Cranes and Equipment in TX. It can chop a 7-foot-wide pavement or up to a defined millimeter measurement.
Asphalt Milling Machine: Manually Operated
The project manager or machine operator manually manages these older machines to control milling depth and width.
- The previous designs had less focus on automation.
- Perform small-scale driveway renovations or minor repairs
- No specific measures to manage slope or contouring milling operations.
These machines have an internal structure similar to drums and cutting blades, but are operated manually with human interaction. They mechanically adjust the rotors to a specific depth and direction. The Houston municipality management companies commonly deployed them to remove 2 inches of asphalt layers.
Cold Planer: No Heating Involved
Grinding and reusing previously used asphalt without melting it is the safest and least energy-consuming practice. The waste ratio of the reclaimed materials is almost zero. Moreover, the foundation layers remain intact in this cold process, which will be degraded in the thermal method.
Asphalt Milling Machine: Do not Emphasize Cold Process
Although the phrase isn’t always specific for cold planners, most pavement milling machines sometimes use cold grinding. The difference between cold and heat-assisted repair is not as clear, and the difference is separated in old model milling machines.
Contractors may use the term “milling machine” interchangeably, meaning any machine that can repair the old asphalt layers. There is no debate about whether a cold or hot process is better. The difference is in its automated controls and output precision.
Cold Planer: Deep Cuts and Full-Lane
The cold planers are designed to cut the pavement deeper, up to 12 inches for compact removal and 88 inches for full-lane cutting. You can mill up to 13 inches in a single pass. The 600 HP engine supports all this.
Asphalt Milling Machine: Surface Milling or Spot Repairs
Standard asphalt machines are frequently deployed for shallow milling, soil leveling, or surface patching. They are not fortified with precise rotary drums to achieve the specific torque required for fine milling operations. The experts use it for sideways shouldering, curb patching, and utility trench filling.
Cold Planer: Large-Scale Projects
Cold planers are standard machines that meet reclamation projects’ quality codes and municipality standards. The Department of Transportation, Houston, approved the cold planer’s authenticity and safety features. Therefore, road contractors use them in large-scale and time-sensitive projects.
Asphalt Milling Machine: Local Road and Patching
Operated manually, these conventional or vintage milling machines are ideal for urban or small-scale projects. The town management companies used it for utility access trenching and small street repairing tasks.
Used Asphalt Milling Machines Near Me in HOUSTON, TEXAS
In a nutshell, both machines are equally essential for removing old asphalt pavement. However, the project size, cost, and requirements determine your best choice. Investing in a used cold planer for sale in Houston, TX, offers unparalleled effectiveness and management.
Cold planers are the ultimate way to optimize operational expenses and achieve more accurate results. Visit Mico Cranes and Equipment online asphalt paving and milling machine inventory in TX.
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