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HARVESTER REVIEWS<br />
1<br />
command & control<br />
Chris McCullough flew<br />
to Germany for the<br />
global launch of Case<br />
IH’s Axial Flow 250<br />
series combines in 2018<br />
A new hydrostatic<br />
transmission, featuring a<br />
field and a road mode and<br />
on-the-move two-speed<br />
range control, provides<br />
increased traction.<br />
Case IH’s Axial-Flow 250 combine harvester series, the 7250,<br />
8250 and 9250, boasts automated features designed to help<br />
improve the performance of even an experienced operator, the<br />
company says.<br />
The AFS Harvest Command automation technology uses<br />
16 sensor inputs to continuously monitor the machine, with<br />
seven adjustable settings to maximise combine performance in<br />
harvesting wheat, canola, maize and soybeans.<br />
There are a number of options on the in-cab AFS Pro700<br />
terminal to suit the level of experience of the operator, the crop<br />
condition and type, as well as the harvesting conditions.<br />
The basic version of AFS Harvest Command features the<br />
proven Automatic Crop Settings (ACS) system. This adjusts<br />
operating items such as fan speed and concave clearance<br />
according to the crop type, eliminating the need to make<br />
individual element settings. The operator is able to adjust the<br />
combine on the go and save the settings for future use.<br />
The next version, with Feedrate Control, adjusts ground speed<br />
based on crop load to cater for a desired outcome, performance<br />
to control losses, maximum throughput, or fixed throughput.<br />
The top specification option is full AFS Harvest Command<br />
automation, which automatically makes threshing and cleaning<br />
system adjustments based on the same desired outcomes as<br />
Feedrate Control, with the addition of grain quality monitoring.<br />
This uses camera-based technology and sieve pressure<br />
sensing to provide further guidance to the machine’s<br />
automatic adjustment process, helping minimise impurities<br />
in the grain sample.<br />
Case IH harvesting product marketing manager for Europe,<br />
Middle East and Africa August von Eckardstein says the AFS<br />
Harvest Command automation grain camera uses a patented<br />
multi-spectral light emission to monitor sample quality<br />
“Combining the five light spectrums provides enhanced<br />
detection of the exposed starch in broken grains. The AFS<br />
terminal alerts the operator if dirt affects camera clarity,”<br />
he says.<br />
With full automation, AFS Harvest Command can be used in<br />
four different ways. In all cases, the operator sets crop type, a<br />
maximum target engine load and maximum ground speed for<br />
the combine to then operate in:<br />
• Performance mode: the combine operates at a speed to<br />
ensure an acceptable level of grain loss from the rotor and<br />
cleaning system<br />
• Fixed throughput mode: the combine maintains a target<br />
throughput by varying its speed, and adjusts settings to<br />
minimise losses<br />
• Maximum throughput mode: the combine operates up to<br />
the speed or power limit set by the operator, while adjusting<br />
settings to minimise grain loss from the rotor and the cleaning<br />
system<br />
• Grain quality mode: the combine adjusts settings to maintain a<br />
targeted grain quality and impurity level, while also minimising<br />
losses<br />
“AFS Harvest Command automation is not designed to replace<br />
operator decisions, but to enhance them, identifying the factor<br />
limiting combine performance as conditions change, displaying<br />
it and making adjustments to address it,” von Eckardstein says.<br />
“AFS Harvest Command means less need to worry about<br />
factors such as losses, fan speed and rotor speed, which allows<br />
greater focus on header position and unloading.”<br />
ROTOR CAGE AND SIEVE UPGRADES<br />
All units in the Axial-Flow 250 series are fitted with rotor cage<br />
vanes that adjust themselves when AFS Harvest Command<br />
automation is engaged, or can be controlled in-cab from a righthand<br />
console switch.<br />
By changing the pitch of the vanes, the crop will move faster or<br />
slower through the rotor cage, tuning threshing and separation<br />
performance to crop conditions for improved efficiency.<br />
Together with upper and lower sieve control, the full AFS<br />
Harvest Command automation package can also adjust all sieve<br />
settings according to feedback from the loss sensors, grain<br />
camera and sieve pressure sensors.<br />
Unique sieve pressure sensors provide AFS Harvest Command<br />
automation with sieve loading data, allowing the system adjust<br />
fan and sieve settings to prevent grain loss when exiting or<br />
entering the crop at the headland or stopping the combine in<br />
the field. Working together with the auto fan option, this also<br />
helps prevent losses before they occur by detecting sieve load<br />
and combine inclination. The fan and sieves work in conjunction<br />
Looking for a<br />
harvester?<br />
Search for ‘harvester’ on<br />
Trade<strong>Farm</strong><strong>Machinery</strong>.com.au<br />
or type the TA or DIY code<br />
shown here into the<br />
keyword search field<br />
$330,000<br />
TA994924<br />
CASE IH 8120. 1358 engine hrs, 1148 rotor hrs,<br />
10.3L Iveco engine. • VIC 03 8547 8720<br />
$599,500<br />
TA1040639<br />
2017 CASE IH 9240 COMBINE HARVESTER. 834<br />
engine and 605 roto hours. • NSW 02 8315 0164<br />
TA908093<br />
$253,000<br />
2012 CASE IH 8230. Combine Harvester. 4262<br />
eng hrs, 2366 sep hrs. • QLD 0428 054 644<br />
60 Trade<strong>Farm</strong><strong>Machinery</strong>.com.au THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND
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