How to choose suitable casters

1. Select by usage environment:

a、 Usually, when choosing a suitable wheel frame, the first consideration is the weight that the casters can bear, such as in supermarkets, schools, hospitals, office buildings, hotels, etc. Due to the good flooring, smoothness, and light weight of the goods being transported (each caster can carry 10-140kg), it is suitable to choose an electroplated wheel frame formed by stamping thin steel plates (2-4mm), which is light, flexible to operate, quiet, and beautiful. This electroplated wheel frame is divided into double row beads and single row beads according to the arrangement of the ball bearings. If frequently moved or transported, double row beads should be used.

b、 In factories, warehouses, and other places where goods are frequently transported and the load is heavy (each caster can carry 280-420kg), it is suitable to choose a wheel frame with double row ball bearings stamped and welded with thick steel plates (5-6 mm).

c、 If used for transporting heavy objects such as textile factories, automobile factories, machinery factories, etc., due to the large load and long walking distance inside the factory (each caster can carry 350-1200kg), a wheel frame cut from thick steel plates (8-12mm) and welded should be selected. The movable wheel frame uses flat ball bearings and ball bearings on the bottom plate, so that the caster can withstand heavy loads, rotate flexibly, and resist impacts. Industrial casters can be made of advanced imported reinforced nylon (PA6), super polyurethane, and rubber single wheels, which have high impact resistance and strength overall. The metal components of the bracket are made of high-quality steel plates that have been galvanized or sprayed with anti-corrosion treatment, and precision ball bearings are installed inside the casters. Medical casters should be selected to meet the requirements of hospitals, with features such as lightweight operation, flexible steering, high elasticity, special ultra quiet operation, wear resistance, anti entanglement, and chemical corrosion resistance.

2. Select based on bearing capacity:

The load-bearing capacity of casters is a basic and critical requirement for casters, and the actual usage situation varies greatly. Therefore, when selecting the load-bearing capacity of casters in practice, a certain safety margin should be left. Taking the commonly used four-wheel installation as an example, the following two methods can be used to choose:

a、 Choose based on three wheels bearing the entire weight. One of the casters is suspended, which is suitable for situations where the casters are subjected to high impact and poor ground conditions during cargo transportation or equipment movement, especially when the total weight is large.  

b、 Choose based on the four wheels bearing 120% of the total weight. This method is suitable for situations where the ground conditions are good and the impact on the wheels is relatively small during the transportation of goods or equipment movement.   

c、 Calculate Load Capacity: In order to calculate the required load capacity of the casters, it is necessary to know the self weight of the transportation equipment, the maximum load, and the number of single wheels and casters used. The required load capacity for a single wheel or caster is calculated as follows:

T=(E+Z)/M×N

---T=the required load-bearing capacity of a single wheel or caster;

---E=self weight of transportation equipment;

---Z=large load;

---M=number of single wheels and casters used;

---N=safety factor (approximately 1.3-1.5).

It should be noted that for those casters that are subject to significant impact, it is not only necessary to choose casters with high load-bearing capacity, but also to choose specially designed impact resistant structures. If braking is not necessary, choose casters with single or double brakes.

3. Rotational flexibility: The larger the size of a single wheel, the more effortless it is to rotate. Roller bearings can carry heavier loads and have greater resistance during rotation. Installing high-quality (bearing steel) ball bearings on a single wheel can carry heavier loads, making rotation lighter, more flexible, and peaceful.

4. Temperature conditions: Severe cold and high temperature environments have a significant impact on the wheels. Polyurethane wheels can rotate flexibly and freely at temperatures as low as minus 45 ℃, while high-temperature resistant wheels can rotate easily at temperatures as high as 230 ℃.