Castor Wheels come in many size, materials and formats. In addition, most castors can be supplied with a range of different types of bearing. In this article we will look at the three of the most common castor wheel bearings:
The most common type of castor has a “Plain Bore Bearing”. This is simply where the centre hole of the Caster Wheel hub does not have any bearing as such, but uses the relatively low friction of the hub material as a bearing, to allow the wheel to roll. Common materials for Caster Wheel hubs include Polypropylene & Nylon. This is the most cost effective option and is actually ideal for very heavy loads. They are best suited to applications that are not moved on a regular basis.
Ball bearings are ideal for optimum rolling ease without any maintenance or lubrication required. They offer quiet movement for Medium Duty Castors and Heavy Duty Castors. The Ball Bearing is simply pressed into the hub of the Caster Wheel.
Roller bearings consist of tube shaped housing with a number of small steel rollers. These types of bearings are typically used where high load capacity is required in addition to the need to regular movement of the Caster Wheel
Summary
Generally, bearings are an improvement to a Castor wheel. They improve the performance and make it easier to move equipment, reducing operator fatigue. However, the added cost of the bearing itself and the fact that they can reduce the load capacity, meaning a larger wheel is needed, can considerable increase the cost of the overall product.
