When determining the best caster for your project, there are a number of factors you must take into consideration. You can’t pick the right caster unless you know how and where your product will be used once complete. In order to choose the most appropriate caster, you should ask yourself the following questions:
1. What are the floor conditions of the space where the product will be rolled?
The floor conditions of your warehouse, office, home, etc. affect the rollability of your caster. Soft, carpeted areas require casters with a larger diameter while smooth floor surfaces are suitable for smaller casters, as these wheels can usually handle the same load as a larger caster in the same scenario. Smaller casters, however, can be harder to continuously roll compared to larger varieties. Overall caster category is another factor to consider as both hard tread and soft tread casters possess their own advantages and disadvantages regarding specific floor conditions.
2. Are there any mounting limitations that need to be taken into consideration?
Depending on the aesthetics of the product, there may be restrictions regarding where casters can be placed. This means that both diameter and wheel type must be considered during the decision making phase. You’ll want to determine what the overall mounting height is as well as the size of the mounting surface area. Some casters require a top plate to be used, resulting in the need for extra surface space. If your product lacks a large potential mounting area, you should consider a caster that can be mounted via threaded steam.
3. Who will be handling the cart?
Generally carts or other objects with casters attached are either manually pushed or towed. Ease of movement is essential for manual applications. As a result, the weight of the overall product must be identified. From there, you will be able to specify the appropriate wheel diameter and wheel type to ensure your product can easily be moved from one location to another.
4. What is the overall application for the product?
The application of your product will help you determine how discreet your casters must be. For instance, products that will be used in the medical field tend to require low profile casters that won’t disrupt patients or employees. This scenario might also hold true in some business settings, so it’s important to evaluate the environment in which your product will operate.
Overall, the key to seamlessly finding the perfect caster for your product lies in your ability to answer the above questions. Determining this information will help ensure that both your product and caster last for the expected amount of time.
What other factors do you consider when choosing a caster for your products? Share your thoughts in the comments.
