Casters

Casters are complete wheel and horn assemblies that attach to equipment to allow movement. There are two basic types of industrial casters: rigid and swivel. Rigid casters permit only straight-line movement. Swivel casters allow movement in any direction. Some varieties of swivel casters also include a lock that, when engaged, transforms the swivel into a rigid-style caster. Both rigid and swivel industrial casters are made out of materials such as aluminum, brass, chrome, copper, iron, steel, plastic, and rubber. In some cases, the wheel or roller is made of one type of material while the plate, horn, and mounting flange are made of another. Typically, industrial casters are used on trucks and trailers, dollies, and drum-handling equipment. Important specifications to consider include load capacity, wheel tread width, wheel diameter, and height.  

Industrial casters use several types of wheels. V-grooved wheels can ride on tracks or floors and provide superior traction. Flanged track wheels can also ride of tracks, but cannot travel on floors because the flanges mounted on each side of the wheel limit the bearing surface area. Pneumatic wheels are filled with air for better shock absorption and usually consist of a rubber tire on a metal rim. Tube and tube-less versions are available. Phenolic wheels are created by applying heat and pressure to layers of paper or glass cloth impregnated with synthetic resin. Industrial casters can also use wheels made from solid materials such as plastic, polyurethane, metal, and rubber for added strength. Plastic wheels can be mounted on metal or plastic hubs. Rubber wheels can be mounted on plastic or metal hubs. Metal wheels, which are often made of stainless steel, may include forged components. Ball wheels are ball-shaped and usually made of brass.

Industrial casters are available with a variety of features. Some devices include a brake, a half-round tread shaped like a semi-circle, or a hooded wheel. Others devices are designed for sanitary applications, typically with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other regulatory approval. Spring-loaded casters reduce shock. Twin wheel casters include two wheels in one housing. Industrial casters that feature stem mountings can include either threaded stems or square stems.  Industrial casters that swivel do not include a kingpin so that the top plate and inner raceway are formed from one piece. This provides a superior raceway for shock conditions. Air casters use a cushion of air pressure to raise the load for easier moving.

• Aero-Caster Technology - How does it work?
  Reduced friction and omni-directional movement allow the operator to precisely place and align the load in a limited work space. The low profile of the air caster Load Module requires less than 3-inch...
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• What Causes Casters To Fail Prematurely? Learn To Minimize Problems
  Capacity Mismatch: If you are using a caster that us under rated for the load capacity of the application, you will have much higher kingpin failure rates. If you are not sure the maximum load that a...
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• Air casters 101
  Air casters make it easy to move heavy machines and equipment without damaging floors. It only takes a few men to move a 15,000-lb machine using AeroCasters. When the AeroCaster's donut-shaped bag...
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Part Numbers for Casters