What is the total load that the casters will need to carry?
Load
per caster is not necessarily taking the total load and dividing by the
number of casters to be used (as the load is typically not evenly
distributed over all of the casters). In most applications, the load is
centered over at least three of the casters, meaning that each caster
should handle one third of the load.
What type of caster wheel is needed to protect your flooring?
Floor
conditions are a very important factor in determining the proper
caster. On rougher floor settings, there is more likelihood that the
load will not be evenly distributed over the total number of casters.
Hardwood floors need a much different wheel type than cement in order
to prevent damage.
What size wheel is necessary to provide ease of rolling?
The
diameter of the caster wheel plays a large role in mobility. Typically,
the larger the wheel, the easier that it will roll.
What is the environment in which the casters will be used?
The
environmental factors (water, oil, acids, corrosive materials, or
temperature) greatly affect the necessary caster. There are a variety
of wheel options that are designed for such reasons.
How will the casters be pushed/pulled?
Choosing
the caster that is best for the application is also determined by how
the unit is moved. Ergonomic casters are designed to provide an ease of
rolling for manually pushed units. Different bearings are options for
powered units to provide length in life of the casters. Speed also
comes into play when selecting casters.
How many swivel and how many rigid casters are needed?
Determining
the number of swivel and rigid casters is necessary to ensure the
proper mobility of the unit. More swivel casters provide ease when
moving the unit into tight spaces. A unit using all swivel casters will
be difficult to push long distances.
How are the casters being mounted in the application?
There
are a variety of mounting alternatives for various casters (i.e. Plate,
Stem, Hollow Kingpin, etc.). When selecting the caster, be sure to have
the appropriate measurements of the mounting device.
