ABSTRACT
Graders are used to plane, mold, or grade the surface of the ground to the desired shape and elevation. The grader blade is called a moldboard and is equipped with replaceable cutting edges and end bits. Grader blades can be rotated vertically into many positions. This is why graders are able to perform such a variety of tasks. Graders are available with both straight and articulated frames. Articulated graders have greater maneuverability as they have a pivot point in front of the cab enabling the front portion of the grader to move from one side to the other as desired by the operator. In the back-and-forth method, the grader operator grades in one direction, backs up with the grader blade raised, and then lowers the blade and makes a second pass. Grader productivity is expressed in an area measure per unit time, such as square yards or square feet per hour.
