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There are four key scenarios that dictate the use of a dual wheel caster in an industrial application. There are certainly others situations and scenarios that dictate the use of a dual wheel caster but these are the one that are felt to be the most applicable to a daily discussion. |
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Nearly 70% of all heavy duty industrial casters are manufactured with some type of polyurethane tired wheel. The most common polyurethane wheel would have a tread of approx 0.375" thickness. This would be considered as a standard tire tread (polyurethane) and is used in a variety of heavy duty applications. The alternative to the standard tread thickness would be a high profile treaded tire (high profile). High Profile Polyurethane tires generally will have a tire that is 1.25" to 1.75" thick. The advantages of the extra thickness of polyurethane are: |
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When engineering a heavy duty industrial caster for an industrial application, consideration of the appropriate swivel lead is an important aspect to achieving the correct and desired performance. It is important to this discussion that one first understands the definition of swivel lead. The swivel lead of a caster is defined as the distance from the vertical centerline of the caster swivel section to the vertical centerline of the wheel. Swivel lead can also be referred to as swivel offset or swivel radius This article will discuss how lengthening the swivel lead of a caster will affect the performance in the application. |
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In industrial caster applications that are manually operated, ergonomics is always a major concern. Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability. Proper ergonomic design can relieve stress on the workforce, keeping them healthier while gaining more productivity. The ease of starting a cart, equipped with industrial casters, in motion or the ease of turning a cart is affected by many different aspects of the caster design. This article will describe some of the details that must be taken into account when designing an industrial caster for improved ergonomics. |
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When designing an industrial caster for applications with higher temperatures, many different aspects of the caster must be taken into account. Applications involving increased temperatures can have many effects on an industrial caster's performance, such as reduced operating life, increased maintenance, or premature failure. Different examples of industrial caster applications involving higher temperature include the use in autoclaves, bakeries, curing ovens, etc. This article will discuss the use of different materials used in the manufacture of industrial casters at elevated temperatures. |
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Caster flutter is a phenomenon in which a swivel caster is harmonically excited such that it begins to swing uncontrollably from side to side as the wheel rolls forward. Caster flutter results in excessive noise, increased wear on all bearing elements and loss of tracking and control of the dolly or cart. There have been numerous studies to understand the causes of caster flutter. The three most common causes of caster flutter in industrial casters and wheels are: |
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