Factors To Consider When Picking Heavy Duty Casters

By Mattie Knight


The kind of wheels and casters are installed on an equipment affect its productivity and that of the person using it. One can maximize productivity and long term income while earning the highest return on investment if the right heavy duty casters are selected. As such, time should be taken out to select the best caster to install. There are a few factors that need to be considered when making a choice and this article will highlight the most important ones.

The first factor to consider must be the expected load per caster. For safe application the load per caster needs to be exceeded by around thirty percent. Weight per caster is usually calculated by dividing maximum weight by total number of casters less one or two. Not all wheels bear the weight at any given time because floors are expected to be irregular. Hence the subtraction.

The next factor is the speed. Manufacturers have designed the devices to be used at different speeds when carrying certain amount of weight. This speed must never be exceeded. When doing calculations, one should always consider the worst case scenario so that they account for discrepancies. Manufacturers can help with duplicating the application to reach at the right figures.

The floor condition should be considered next. Newly cemented or other types of floors offer a very good surface for the wheels to move without trouble. However, if the floors have holes and other kinds of defects, they can cause some real damage within a short time if the casters selected are of the wrong type. If the floors have defects, one should consider high-rise wheels.

Wheels also damage floors. Running metallic casters over wooden or ceramic floors damages them. It is better to buy devices with softer wheels if one wants to preserve softer floors. Many companies produce soft wheels made out of plastic and other softer materials.

Wheel movement varies among models. There are two main types of movement, that is, unidirectional and multidirectional. Unidirectional devices maintain a straight course during movement, while multidirectional ones can rotate through 360 degrees and move into any direction. How the caster is attached to the vehicle also differ. Some use screw-ons or plates while others use stems. Mode of movement is supported by method of attachment. One must be straight with their facts and requirements before buying casters.

Today, technology has made it possible to produce models that are power driven and manual driven. Power driven models experience more force from the load, but also move faster. On the other hand, manual ones move slowly at the pace of the worker, but experience less force. Less force implies that longevity is increased.

Finally, there are many features that modern devices incorporate that should be considered. Presence of shock absorbency, anti-bacterial material, and locks are among top features people consider. Locks ensure that the vehicle remains pinned in a given position. They also make homes safe for pets and children.




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