Saturday 14 November 2015

How To Buy Good Industrial Casters

By Mattie Knight


Several factors determine the level of performance and functioning in casters. Among those factors are nature of the floor, load capacity, mode of attachment, and speed of movement. These factors and many others must be based on when making a purchase of industrial casters for both commercial and household use. The decision can be a tough one, but with the information in this article, one should be able to make an informed decision.

The first fact to consider is the maximum weight the device is designed to support. This figure is usually determined by the manufacturer at the time of production and should not be exceeded for safe application of the wheel. Closely related to the maximum weight is the load per caster that can be supported on a cart. This figure can be derived by diving total weight a cart is supposed to carry by number of casters attached to it. The figure quoted should be slightly higher for safety purposes.

The speed is the next factor to be considered. Casters are designed to move at different speeds under different circumstances. The speed at which the wheels can move when the cart is empty cannot be the same as when it is loaded. Exceeding the specified speed causes internal break down and eventual failure. Manufacturers can offer assistance with choice in this regard if one cannot make up their mind.

Another aspect of importance is the surface of application. Wheel move effectively and smooth when the surface is flat and without defects. On the other hand, movement is troubled on a surface full of defects. Surfaces with defects cause damage to wheels very fast.

Similarly, floors constructed from soft materials such as bamboo, ceramic, and wood usually get damaged by casters. They damage the beauty by gouging the surface, hence causing scratches and marks. Wheels made from rubber and plastic or other soft materials should be used on such floors.

Another important factor that is often overlooked is the kind of environment caster application is meant to occur. It is obvious that products meant for use in hot environments will be negatively impacted when used in freezing temperatures. Manufacturers design products to suit the kind of environment they are intended to be used. The most affected aspects of the caster are the wheel and the finish features incorporated.

Many criteria can be used to classify casters. The mode of powering is one such criterion. Normally two kind of devices fall under this classification, that is, manually driven and power driven. How fast the device moves and how much force the load exerts on the wheels depend on the method of powering. Usually, power driven devices get damaged faster and easily due to more force being exerted by the load.

Modern products incorporate several features that improve efficiency and functionality. However, they also cost more. The cost can sometimes be so high that it becomes important to make the investment wisely.




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