What You Need To Know About Casters

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Casters are a piece of equipment that includes a wheel and mount. They make it easy to move carts, racks, and dollies around in manufacturing plants. Because of the variety between these wheels, you need to know more about them if you want to choose the best match for your business.

Types

There are two types of mounts, swivel and rigid. Rigid ones can only roll forward and back, while swivel wheels can move for greater maneuverability.

Resistance

Several characteristics are important when choosing a caster, but resistance is one that most people consider important. The resistance of your wheel impacts how easily it rolls across your floor, how much noise it makes, and how durable it is.

Hardness

Generally, rubber materials are the softest, plastics are medium, and metals are the hardest. However, the manufacturer will give each material a hardness number that describes this characteristic.

Dimensions

The diameter is the most crucial dimension of your wheel. It is basically explaining the height of your wheel.

Materials

There are many unique materials that wheels can be made from. The most common materials include iron, steel, nylon, monoprene, neoprene, phenolic, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyurethane, rubber, and vulkollan. Each one has specific capabilities, such as polyolefin, which can handle greasy solvents and alkaline compounds.

Floor Compatability

The type of flood you have can impact what material you choose. For instance, phenolic, polyolefin, pneumatics, and nylon are great for concrete. Soft rubbers can also handle concrete floors, especially those that are littered with metal chips.

Load Rating

The load rating describes how much weight each wheel can support. The total of all the ratings on one cart describes that piece of equipment’s total load capacity. To calculate the load rating you need, divide the weight of your load by the number of wheels you desire.

Measuring Casters

Measuring wheels is one way to figure out which one could work for you. This process will help you determine the total assembly height, wheel diameter, wheel width, and swivel radius.

Mount Types

Three types of mounts are compatible with a variety of equipment. Plate, stem, and bolt hole mounts are your primary choices, and you should choose the one that best works with the bottom of your equipment.

There is a lot more to this piece of equipment than just a wheel and mount. Knowing all of these facts will help you choose the best match for your manufacturing business.