CRADLE ASSEMBLY

552 142 51 CRADLE ASSEMBLY Serving as the direct mount for the rock drill, the cradle assembly slides along the feed beam to advance and retract the drifter. Its primary job is to maintain perfect alignment between the drifter, the drill steel, and the hole being drilled. This alignment is essential for transmitting the full impact and rotation energy from the drifter into the rock, which directly affects drilling speed and efficiency.

When the slide pieces or the main body of the cradle wear out, the drifter can become loose on the feed. This creates vibration and misalignment, leading to crooked holes and putting significant side-loading stress on the drill string and the drifter's front-end components. Continued operation with a worn cradle assembly will accelerate wear on expensive parts like the shank adapter and front bushing, increasing overall running costs.

Listen for rattling sounds from the feed during operation and look for any visible wobble or play in the drifter's mounting. Regularly check the condition of the cradle's wear strips and replace them as a set when they approach their wear limit to maintain tight tolerances and protect your drifter.