A castor wheel is an undriven, comparatively tiny wheel that rolls freely (as opposed to propelled). To make it simple to travel on a floor or other hard surface, they are made to be fastened to the underside of a bigger object.
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Castor wheels are frequently referred to by the word “castors” alone. Some vendors and manufacturers refer to them as “caster wheels” or “casters” as well. While mostly a US variety, the latter spelling is entirely acceptable. In the UK, “castor” is often the recommended standard.
What precisely are castor wheels, then?
There are three primary varieties of castors in terms of their fundamental shape. Typically, they will be produced with one wheel, two wheels, or a complex wheel configuration:
For increased stability, a double wheel castor aligns two independent twin wheels side by side.
Two-piece single wheels with fixed concentric discs rotating together around a single axis are known as compound castors. This may provide increased overall strength in applications that carry weight.
In the United Kingdom, the majority of castor wheels are quite basic parts. They may be seen in a wide variety of residential and business settings, usually attached to “vehicles” that are furniture or simple machines. This leads to an abundance of alternatives and styles.
Why Do Castor Wheels Get Used?
Technically, there are a few distinct questions you may be posing here. “Where would I find them?” “What do they do?” “How do caster wheels work?” “How do I attach castors?” or “Are there better alternatives available?” are some possible questions you may have.
The fundamentals of castors’ operation will be covered in a subsequent section. Let’s briefly review their primary applications in a variety of commercial, professional, and industrial settings for the time being.
The majority of castors are only employed to facilitate the movement of a large, heavy piece of equipment or furniture—the “vehicle”—around. In some situations, adding a small, discrete wheel to the bottom of any large or heavy object is a terrific method to increase its mobility.
There are two primary elements that will determine the type and style of castors you need to connect to a particular vehicle:
Ratings of Castor Weight (Load-Bearing)
First and foremost, you must take the weight of the object being supported into account. There is a unique weight rating assigned to each castor.
To get the overall load-bearing capability for the whole set of castors, multiply this by the number of wheels you are using.
Keep in mind that, in order to provide an adequate safety margin, the overall load-bearing capability of your castors should always be at least 30% greater than the total weight of the item when fully loaded.
Type of Surface (for Movement)
Second, you need to be aware of the kind of surface you want to move it across. Smaller castor wheels are often best suited for usage on relatively level, smooth surfaces like hard or carpeted floors.
You will want a bigger wheel diameter (or radius) for tougher terrain in order to more easily navigate the uneven surface.
Keep in mind that bigger wheels will affect the vehicle’s height above the floor and the amount of space required for turning if swivel castors are being used.
Practicality and aesthetics are also important considerations; big, noticeable wheels would be ugly or overly intrusive.
These fundamental and reasonably priced parts are commonly utilized in a variety of business and office settings. There are several different kinds of heavy-duty and specialized castors used in manufacturing, industrial, and service environments. Distinguished instances might consist of:
Office and commercial furnishings
assembly of aircraft
Automobile manufacturing facilities
trucks with platforms
Workstations
device for lifting and moving
Medical carts, stretchers, and hospital beds
Equipment and installations in factories
Applications for warehousing
Racks for bags
Carts for groceries and tools for handling veggies
