Caster Wheels are manufactured in a range of different materials, sizes and fixing types. All of which have various properties to suit the application that they will be used on.
In order to achieve the maximum performance and fatigue life out of your caster wheels it is important to consider the application and environment that it will be used.
Casters Wheel Maximum Weight
Depending on the type of application this can be a fairly simply technique, or sometimes needs a little more calculation. In the below examples, we will refer to a warehouse trolley with 4 Trolley Wheels.
- The maximum weight of the equipment should be calculated. This may include the weight of the equipment (Trolley) and also the material that it may carry.
- The weight distribution should be considered. It may be found that the weight is not distributed evenly over all Castors, and is heavy on one side, corner or end. Bulldog Castors can calculated this for our clients, or for complex equipment can run through our computer modelling system.
- It should be considered that at times not all wheels will be in contact with the floor, such as when travelling over uneven floors. Therefore the maximum weight should be divided by the number of castors, minus 1. Therefore in the event of a 300Kg Trolley, the calculation would be as follows:
300Kg / (4-1) = 100Kg per Wheel
- After the maximum weight per caster wheel has been calculated, and other forces such as shock or impact should be considered. In the example of a warehouse trolley, if a weight of 25Kg is dropped into the Trolley, even from a relatively low height (for example 200mm) this will induce a shock force that will significantly multiple the weight of 25kg.
This calculation is a little more complex, and is primarily based on the Dropped Weight, Drop Height and Rigidity of the Trolley. Bulldog Technical department can conduct the necessary calculations to take this into account. In addition Bulldog can offer a range of unique Anti-Shock Castors.
Caster Wheels – Fixing Style
Castors can be supplied with various different fixing brackets. Typically these include
- Fixed Castors – a wheel that can move only in one plane of direction. Typically is mounted to the equipment using 4 bolt holes. Ideal for fitting to flat surfaces.
- Top Plate Swivel Castors – a bracket with 4 bolt holes for mounting to the equipment. The bracket has a ball bearing swivel mechanism to allow a full 360 degrees of rotation / movement. Ideal for fitting to flat surfaces.
- Bolt Hole Swivel Castors – a bracket with a single bolt hole, allowing the castor wheel to be fitted with a single bolt. Also has a ball bearing swivel mechanism for 360 degrees movement. Ideal for fitting into tubes & box sections and blind threaded holes.
- Single Stud Castors – Identical to the Bolt Hole Caster but with the Bolt pre-fabricated to the castor. Ideal for fixing to threaded inserts and tubes and box sections
- Stem Castors – Similar to the Single Stud Castor, but has a plain shaft/stem that is pressed into a mating connector to fix to the equipment.
- Expanding Insert Castors – This is an adaptation of the Bolt Hole Castor. As the Bolt is passed through the hole it passed through a plastic inserts that expands. The inserts is placed inside either a round or square box section, when the insert expands locks the castors onto the equipment.
Caster Wheel Environment
– Flooring Surfaces
- Rubber Castors – Ideal for Hard Floors. Suitable for both rough and smooth surfaces. Low Noise.
- Polyurethane Casters – Ideal for Hard and Soft Floors. Suitable for both rough and smooth surfaces. Low Noise, Excellent shock and Impact resistance.
- Plastic Castors & Nylon Castors – Ideal for Hard and Soft Floors – Best on smooth ground, but can be used on rough ground if required. High Load Capacity.
– Contaminants
- Polyurethane Casters (and some PVC Castors) are the ultimate material. Having Good levels of resistance to Chemicals, Fuels, Oils & Cleaning materials. Therefore if contaminants need to be accommodated Polyurethane is normally the material of choice.
Above information is provide for guidance only. Customers should contact Bulldog castors to discuss their specific application and suitability of our products.
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