Caterpillar’s new MD5150C track drill, the first of the C Series drills, which feature Cat® components— is, Cat says “proven reliable and available from local Cat dealers who also service the drills. The MD5150C delivers top-of-class power and high airflow for fast, efficient drilling of holes” from 101.6 mm to 152 mm in diameter. The MD5150C offers a choice of three different rock drills, patented carousel rod changer, ergonomic cab and many other features that boost productivity and reduce operating costs.
Cat says “compared to the MD5125, which the MD5150C will replace, the new drill has 18% more power, a compressor that can deliver 33% more air volume and 40% more air pressure, 19% faster tram speed and 40% greater ground clearance.
“High reliability, long life and low ownership costs characterize the MD5150C rock drill. With less than half as many moving parts as competitive rock drills, it is a simple, reliable design that offers dependable performance and exceptional durability. Caterpillar is the only manufacturer offering rock drills designed to be serviced on site—to reduce downtime and control costs. Service doesn’t require a clean room, and there’s no need to incur freight costs to ship the rock drill to the OEM for maintenance or to keep a spare rock drill in stock to accommodate maintenance downtime.”
The rock drill also features an automated lube system, which eliminates the need to stop the machine for manual greasing every two hours. Three different rock drill choices enable matching the selection to the application to achieve the highest production rate. The standard rock drill on the MD5150C is the HPR5128, which uses 51-mm drill steel. Also available are the HPR6832 Rock Drill, which can use 68-mm speed rod, and the HPR6030 designed for 60-mm drill steel.
The MD5150C dramatically reduces setup time, thanks to its innovative carousel rod changer. The rod changer and feed assembly have seven patents pending. The system holds six rods and accommodates two lengths and multiple diameters of drill steel. Powerful dual-rod grippers and a unique gate design let the rod and gate move simultaneously, reducing cycle time. The rod changer is supported by a sturdy feed and heavy-duty 2.7-m boom that extends to 3.3 m for larger pattern coverage with fewer setups. Because the carousel rod changer weighs less and holds more rods than linear models, the boom extension can reach farther and drill deeper while maintaining stability. Holes can be drilled within 610 mm of the highwall, which is 50% closer than with a linear rod changer.