At Advance Caster, we’ve helped thousands of customers through the often underestimated and complex process of finding the “right” caster wheel for their particular needs.
To properly determine which casters are suitable for a given application, several key specifications and factors need to be considered. These specifications help ensure the casters provide the right performance, safety, and durability for the task at hand.
Let’s go through the key areas of consideration that will relate to selecting the “best” caster and wheel for your own unique situation.
- Load Capacity
- Definition: The weight that each caster or caster set can safely support
- How to Determine Load Capacity:
- Calculate the total weight of the object being moved
- Divide the total weight by the number of casters
- Add a safety margin (typically 25-30%) to account for dynamic loads, uneven surfaces, or unexpected weight increases
- Example: If a cart weighs 800lbs and you are using four casters, each caster should be rated for at least 250lbs (25% safety margin)
- Caster Type (Rigid vs. Swivel)
- Rigid Casters: Only moves forwards and backwards in a straight line
- Swivel Casters: Allow 360-degree rotation, providing maneuverability in tight spaces
- Combination: Most setups use a combination of both (e.g., two rigid casters and two swivel casters)
- Wheel Size and Material Relating to Flooring and Surfaces
- Why This Matters: The diameter and material dictate the caster’s ability to roll smoothly, its load capacity, and its resistance to wear
- Wheel Size: Larger wheels roll easier over rough terrain and spread the load over a larger surface and generally have higher weight capacities than smaller wheels
- Material: Different wheel materials have different benefits and drawbacks:
- Rubber: Quiet and shock-absorbent, ideal for smooth surfaces
- Polyurethane: Offers a balance of durability, quiet operation, and good floor protection
- Steel and Cast Iron: Suitable for heavy-duty applications but can be noisy and may damage floors
- Nylon and Phenolic: Durable, resistant to wear, but can cause noise on hard floors
- Speed and Frequency of Movement
- Constant Movement: If the object is moved frequently, casters with high-quality bearings (e.g., ball bearings) will be necessary to reduce friction and ensure smooth movement
- Occasional Movement: For items that are only moved occasionally, less expensive casters with basic bushings or bearings may suffice
- Speed Considerations: If the caster is used in high-speed applications (e.g., carts on conveyors), choose casters designed for higher speeds and with bearings that can withstand the increased friction and heat
- Environmental Conditions
- Why This Matters: The working environment can affect the type of caster required, particularly if exposed to extreme conditions
- Temperature Extremes: Consider whether the casters will be exposed to high or low temperatures. For example, certain materials like rubber can degrade at high temperatures, while plastics can become brittle at very low temperatures. Once a wheel becomes brittle, chipping and damage may occur easily, while high heat tends to encourage material separation (e.g., rubber tread separating from the wheel core)
- Wet or Oily Conditions: In environments where liquids, oils, or chemicals are present, look for casters with corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or plastic, and those designed or rated to resist chemicals
- Mounting and Installation Type
- Definition: How the caster is mounted to the object (e.g., via a plate or stem) and its dimensions
- How to Determine the Caster Mount:
- Check the mounting pattern (e.g., bolt hole configuration) and mounting height to ensure proper fit
- Ensure compatibility between threaded stem casters and the receiving thread, many threaded stem casters have differing thread counts, stem widths, and stem heights
- Brakes and Locking Mechanisms
- Why This Matters: Brakes can keep casters stationary, preventing unintended movement
- Considerations:
- If the casters need to be locked in place to prevent rolling when stationary (e.g., for stability during work or when loading)
- Some casters offer a total lock brake, which locks both the wheel and the swivel function, while others brakes may just lock the wheel
- Shock and Impact Resistance
- Why This Matters: Some casters are designed to absorb shock or impact, which is important in environments where heavy loads may be dropped or moved over rough surfaces, large cracks in concrete floors, and transitions between two different kinds of surfaces
- Cost Considerations
- Why This Matters: While important for budgeting, the cost should not outweigh the need for safety, durability, and proper functionality, consider the higher costs of replacing inferior casters and wheels more frequently than higher-quality ones which may provide a longer product lifespan
By working through this list, you can select casters that will provide the best performance, safety, and longevity for your application. If you need help with a specific scenario or application, feel free to provide more details via the Contact Us page!