How about the size of the caster wheel, have you ever wondered why they make them in different sizes? This article is intended to answer this fundamental question, and we will also be looking at the relationship between Caster wheel size and its performance of different floor surfaces.

How Casters Perform on Different Floor Surfaces

Let start from floor surfaces and how they affect the performance of casters. For Casters, floors can be categorized based on the nature of the floor finish, namely concrete, hardwood, carpet, and tile. The nature of the floor finish greatly affects the choice of casters that should be used in that space or environment.

The nature of the caster wheel material is also important. This is a cause of concern because of the effects of the wheels on the floor when the load is imposed on the casters. Some popular caster wheel materials are polyurethane, nylon, aluminum, stainless steel, pneumatics, iron, and rubber.

Where Are Casters Used and What Are Their Applications?

Since casters have wide applications in our everyday life, we need them to make our activities easy to execute, casters are usually attached to furniture like office chairs, tables, and other equipment in the office, at home, schools, hospitals, supermarkets, and other public places. Casters are also fitted with brake mechanisms that help to keep them stationary whenever to you want them in a particular position.

Soft Casters Vs. Hard Casters, Which Goes Where?

Going by general rule for the selection and matching pf casters with different floors, hard casters should be used on smooth floor surfaces, and soft casters should be used on hard floor surfaces. Casters are either classified as soft or hard, depending on the materials used in making them. Casters made from rubber and polyurethane are considered smooth casters and should be used on hardwood floors to achieve grip and easy rolling of the wheels. Hard casters like those made from stainless steel and metal are ideal for carpeted floors.

Easy Mobility of Casters on Floor Surfaces

The right choice of casters and floor finish allow for easy movement and rolling of the caster wheels across the surface. A wrong choice of these two will result in casters getting stuck or hindered rolling. It also affects the performance and quality of the floor finish, you will see cracks, and breakage of floor finishes like tiles, and tear on carpets.

Aside from causing fast deterioration of floors, hindered movement of caster wheels can reduce the productivity level of staff or whoever is using them. A bad caster wheel can lead to ergonomic and health risks like bad posture from the forceful push and pull of equipment.

If you are much concerned about the direction in which caster wheels go, you should consider the design of the caster top plate. Casters either come as a fixed top plate or swivel top plate. The major difference has been that swivel caster wheels offer more maneuverability compared to the fixed or rigid top plate counterpart.

How Caster Wheel Size Affects Movement on Floor Surface

After determining the weight limit and load capacity of caster wheels, the next factors that affect the movement of casters is their size. The dimension and configuration of caster wheels determined the level of comfort you will get from using any caster. Caster wheels come in varying sizes, and it is advised that you inquire about the rig size, wheel size, and the top plate like we mentioned earlier in this article.

The width is measured with the wheel standing upright. Likewise, you can use a measuring tape to measure from one side to the other side.

How to choose the right Caster wheel size?

The logic behind choosing the appropriate wheel size is that the bigger the size, the easier it is to roll. So, the size of the caster wheels is relative to the task at hand. Bigger wheel size will convey loads/goods faster and cover more grounds compared to smaller caster wheel size. They also have more strength to carry heavier loads and handle larger weights.

Casters with larger wheel sizes are often used for heavy-duty purposes where heavy loads need to be transported every time. They can also withstand much stress and impact when they hit other objects that may obstruct their path.

Use narrow wheel casters whenever you need to lift lighter weights. In comparison to the larger sized caster wheels, they offer less deface area on the wheel to support the load. If you were to put heavy weights on them, there would be too much stress on the casters, which will eventually lead to failure and accidents.

Use Wider Caster Wheels for Heavier Loads, And Rough Floor Conditions

Rugged and uneven floor surfaces call for wider caster wheels for stability and balance while conveying goods. Also, wider caster wheels are perfect for withstanding chemical attack, since they are stronger and thicker in section. Other necessary boxes you should check before making your selection are:

· How much weight do you intend to move with the caster?

· What is the flooring surface made of and what is the floor condition?

· How fast is the caster wheel expected to go?

· What level of maneuverability is expected during transport?

You need a caster that gives you total control of your movement. Your choice for either a wide or narrow caster wheel size will vary from time to time depending on the nature of the tasks they are needed for. However, if you have correctly answered the above questions, you shouldn’t have any problem with making the right choice.