Executive summary This clip shows a roll-over cradle turning a heavy red machine weldment. The part sits in a black curved rocker cradle, the cradle rolls on its curved base, and the part ends up on its side, turned through 90 degrees, without slings or a crane flip. The footage was shared with us; our equivalent solution turns heavy plates, weldments and castings the same way, sized to your heaviest part.
Table of Contents
- What the clip shows
- Why a roll-over cradle
- Cradle radius and footprint
- What we set per part
- Selection checklist
- Safety
- Engineering FAQ
- Next step
- Related reading
- Sources
What the clip shows
| Step | What you see |
|---|---|
| Start | A red weldment sits upright in a black curved rocker cradle |
| Rolling | The cradle rolls on its curved base |
| Mid-turn | The part leans over as the cradle keeps rolling |
| End | The part lies on its side, turned through 90 degrees |
| Shop | Pallets and parts around the cradle in the workshop |
Why a roll-over cradle
- Controlled turn. The part stays clamped in the cradle the whole way.
- No crane flip. The crane only places and lifts the part.
- Low floor load. The curved base spreads the load as it rolls.
- Any shape. Fixtures in the cradle hold irregular weldments and castings.
Cradle radius and footprint
Worked example (illustrative). A cradle rolling through 90 degrees travels a quarter of its circumference.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cradle radius (illustrative) | 1,500 mm |
| Quarter circumference, 3.14 × 2 × 1,500 ÷ 4 | about 2,360 mm |
| Floor length for the roll, plus base (illustrative) 1,000 mm | about 3,360 mm |
What we set per part
| Setting | Depends on |
|---|---|
| Cradle radius | Part size and centre of gravity |
| Capacity | Heaviest part |
| Fixtures | Part shape |
| Turn angle | 90 or 180 degrees |
Selection checklist
- Part size and weight.
- Centre of gravity.
- Turn angle: 90 or 180 degrees.
- Floor space for the roll.
- Fixtures for each part type.
- Turns per shift.
Safety
- Keep clear of the rolling path of the cradle.
- Clamp the part before the turn starts.
- Stop and lock the cradle before releasing the part.
- For CE markets, the machine is designed to ISO 12100 and EN 415-10.
Engineering FAQ
Q: What does a roll-over cradle do? A: It turns a heavy part by rolling on its curved base, without a crane flip.
Q: How much floor does it need? A: About a quarter of the cradle circumference plus the base; about 3,360 mm in the worked example.
Q: Can it turn 180 degrees? A: Yes. A 180 degree turn needs a semi-circular base and more floor travel.
Q: Is it only for plates? A: No, it also turns weldments and castings with fixtures, as in the clip.
Q: Can you build this configuration? A: Yes. We build equivalent roll-over cradles sized to your parts.
Q: Which standards apply? A: For CE markets, ISO 12100 and EN 415-10.
Next step
We match a roll-over cradle in three steps:
- Submit your layout drawing with part sizes, weights and centre of gravity, to info@fhopepack.com.
- Receive a proposal within 48 hours with the machine data and layout.
- Book a site survey so we confirm the floor space.
Related reading
- Steel Sheet Flipper Instead of Crane Flipping
- Upender with Custom Fixture for Heavy Castings
- Big Frame Flipper for 180 Degree Turning
- Steel sheet flipper and upender machine
Sources
- Machine content: FHOPE engineering team, 2026-10-10
- Clip: the video on YouTube
- Cradle radius and footprint: our worked example, illustrative values
- Standards scope: ISO 12100:2010; EN 415-10:2014
- Proposal timing: approved house CTA (proposal within 48 hours)
Last reviewed: 2026-10-10
