Vögele has rolled out the "AutoSet" function for its Super 1800-3i and 1900-3i tracked pavers, designed to automate the most critical variables in the asphalt laying process: screed temperature and compaction energy. Inconsistent screed temperature is a leading cause of thermal segregation, where cool spots in the mat lead to premature cracking. Vögele's new system links the screed heating elements to the paver's forward speed sensor.
When the paver stops at a truck change, the system detects the halt and automatically reduces the screed heating to an "idle" temperature, preventing the asphalt directly under the screed from overheating and burning. As soon as the paver begins moving again, the heating elements ramp back up to the optimal paving temperature instantly. This closed-loop control ensures the asphalt mat maintains a consistent viscosity from the first meter to the last.
Additionally, the system automates the tamper and vibration frequency based on the paving speed. To achieve optimal density, the number of tamper impacts per meter must remain constant. If the paver speeds up, the AutoSet system automatically increases the tamper frequency proportionally; if the paver slows down, the frequency decreases. This ensures that every square meter of asphalt receives the exact same compactive effort from the screed, eliminating the "checkered board" density patterns often seen in hand-controlled paving.
