There’s no question that heavy-duty mining vehicles operate under some of the harshest conditions in the world. This equipment is constantly subject to relentless vibration, corrosive environments, and punishing loads that test its quality, durability, and reliability on an ongoing basis.
To help maintain the integrity of their equipment, mining vehicle OEMs must ensure their fabrication partners use only the strongest build materials and the latest fabrication and assembly technology to help ensure total lifecycle performance of the end product.
In this month’s blog, we discuss the special design and fabrication considerations for three critical mining vehicle components that need to perform reliably over tens of thousands of operating hours: the cab, axle housings, and decks. As a leading off-road mining equipment OEM supplier, we understand that educating our customers about what goes into mining vehicle fabrication delivers peace of mind that our technicians are committed to safety, reliability, and quality.
Mining Cab Fabrication That Provides Operator Safety And Performance
Mining vehicle cabs serve as both the operator’s command center and primary safety zone, as they must survive high-energy impacts, rollovers, and constant shock loads from rough terrain. Its integrity must be assured to not only keep the vehicle in service, but also to protect the life of the operator.
Here are some of the primary design considerations when fabricating mining vehicle cabs to help cabs perform efficiently and reliably:
- Material Selection: High-strength, low-alloy steels are a premium choice for cab frames due to their ability to offer superior impact resistance while minimizing weight
- Corrosion Protection: Industrial-grade coatings and surface treatments bond securely to the underlying metal, helping the environment resist chemical exposure, humidity, and abrasive dust that accelerate metal degradation
- Precision Fit: CNC laser cutting and robotic welding ensure perfect alignment, structural integrity, and dust-tight sealing, while meeting tolerance requirements help improve HVAC efficiency, reduce vibration, and enhance operator comfort
Read More: Inside AOR’s Complete Fabrication Process
Axle Housing Fabrication To Ensure Mining Vehicle Reliability
Mining vehicle axle housings are the structural link between massive torque output and ground contact. As the primary load-bearing components, they must handle extreme bending, torsional stresses, and repetitive shock without failure.
With precision axle housing fabrication, we pay special attention to four main areas to help in reducing equipment downtime, extending maintenance intervals, and improving vehicle reliability:
- Material selection: The steel used must be engineered for high fatigue resistance to help the axle housings balance hardness for wear resistance with ductility to absorb impacts
- Weld integrity: Pre and post-weld heat treatments prevent stress cracking, while custom fixtures hold components in exact alignment during welding.
- Micron-level precision: Advanced CNC technology with in-process verification functionality helps fabricators maintain tolerances within microns, even for axle housings exceeding several meters
- Abrasion and corrosion defence: Thermal spray coatings or ceramic-reinforced finishes extend service life by resisting pitting, rust, and surface wear
Deck Fabrication That Optimizes Structural Strength, Payload, And Longevity
Mining decks carry extreme payloads while having to resist bending, torsion, and repeated high-impact loading cycles. Safety and longevity are paramount with these components, but an additional priority is placed on structural optimization to maximize strength and efficiency.
When designing mining decks, four special considerations must be addressed to ensure the part can withstand the load demands of modern high-capacity mining vehicles while maintaining a manageable weight for optimal payload efficiency:
- Material selection: Thick, high-strength plate steels form the core of the deck, precision cut by plasma or laser to ensure clean weld-ready edges
- Warp-free assembly: Skilled weld sequencing and controlled heat input prevent distortion, preserving alignment with chassis components
- Field serviceability: Accurate hole placement and modular wear plates make component swaps faster, reducing costly downtime
- Wear protection: Fabricators integrate hardened steel inserts, overlay systems, or replaceable panels to resist abrasion and maintain deck integrity over years of service under harsh conditions
Read More: Material Selection Strategies For Your Fabrication Projects
Partner With The Proven Mining Fabrication Specialists At Arrow Off-Road
In heavy-duty industries such as mining, agriculture, and construction, there is no room for fabrication mistakes. That’s why leading OEMs partner with Arrow Off-Road. We augment our end-to-end manufacturing capacity with engineering foresight, advanced metalworking technology, and skilled, experienced fabricators.
With over 100 years of trusted design, metalworking, and assembly experience, we’re the only manufacturing partners you’ll ever need for high-quality off-road products that exceed your expectations.
Arrow Off-Road: CNC Machine Manufacturers In Canada Delivering Quality To Global OEMs
Partner with Arrow Off-Road for precise machining, welding, and fabrication solutions customized to your requirements and application. Quickly request a quote for your next project to experience the Arrow difference in quality, precision, and service for yourself. Get in touch with us today!