What are the common parts of an excavator?

What's an auger? Or a stick? Or a slew ring? Don't worry; we'll explain all the most common parts of an excavator so you can sound like an excavator expert on the job site.

• Bucket-The steel container at the end of the dipper or stick, used to lift and handle materials

• Linkage-Links the bucket to the dipper, provides vertical movement

• Dipper (or stick)-Attaches the linkage and bucket to the boom

• Boom-Raises or lowers the dipper or stick

• Cab-Where the operator sits and manipulates the excavator's controls

• Car Body-What the cab is mounted on (think "frame and chassis")

• Cylinders-The hydraulic mechanisms used to move the boom and dipper

• Engine-You know this one; it's the powerplant and heart of the machine

• Tracks-The interlinked steel plates that the excavator runs on

• Sprockets-Connect to the final drives and rotate the tracks forward and backward

• Slew ring (or swing bear or swing bearing)-The circular metal ring that attaches the car body to the chassis and lets the excavator to rotate in a circle