Category: CasterU

Cold-Weather Considerations

Last week brought extreme weather to North America. Texas, with sustained single-digit temperatures (that’s Fahrenheit) and as much as 5” of snow, seemed to be the focus of attention. But, at the same time, the north-east saw multiple snowfalls exceeding 6” while western Canada saw temperatures dipping well below 40ºC (which coincidentally is -40ºF). At Algood, we got a call from a customer in Texas with a question that we usually get from customers in Wisconsin or North Dakota. “Will my casters work in freezing cold weather and how can I protect them?” he asked. We know that if there’s one person asking, others are thinking about the same thing. So, with that in mind, here’s a CasterU primer on casters and cold weather.

Here are a number of cold-weather considerations for casters.

Raceways & Grease

If the grease in the wheel and swivel raceways freezes, casters will seize. Make sure that casters are well greased and that you are using grease rated for the temperatures in which equipment is being used. The standard grease used at Algood will withstand -25ºC (-13ºF) but specialty greases with even lower temperature ratings are available. Raceways can also be protected by seals and thread guards.

Consider Kinginless

Kingpinless casters are ideal for cold weather because the swivel raceway is concealed and protected from water and snow. They normally require no additional greasing bit if they do, the grease fitting is in a very convenient location. In addition, kingpinless casters have a larger swivel raceway, improving the maneuverability of equipment on cold, hard surfaces.

Wheels & Bearings

In freezing temperatures, surfaces get harder and mobility becomes an issue. Harder wheels, that make it easier to get equipment moving and keep it rolling, are the ideal choice. A wheel like our RollX™ has less surface friction and less resistance. In addition, RollX wheels are less likely to chip in cold temperatures. Obstacles on the ground like snow, ice or salt require additional grip, making a softer wheel like our Envirothane™ or Prothane™ a better choice.

Precision ball bearings are the best choice for cold weather. They are pipe sealed, protecting the balls, and rated for temperatures as low as -25ºC. There are bearings available that are rated for even colder temperatures.

Stainless Steel

Cold weather that includes snow and ice (and therefore salt) can create highly corrosive conditions. Casters manufactured using stainless steel and that include stainless steel components will fare much better in extreme cold.

Stay Inside – Duh!

This may be obvious, but keeping equipment with casters away from the outdoors in cold weather will increase its longevity. If you must take equipment outside, be sure that the casters, including all components and grease are rated for extreme cold temperatures.

Need help you with all your cold weather considerations, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

Three Trade-Offs

If you’re looking for the truth about ergonomics a good way to start is with a definition: Ergonomics is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them.

As it relates to casters and wheels, ergonomics comes down to two factors. First, it’s is a matter of reducing push-pull force – or the amount of effort someone needs to expend in order to start or stop the movement of a piece of equipment. The second factor is maneuverability – how easily can that piece of equipment be turned.

Now, here’s the truth about ergonomic casters and wheels. To achieve ergonomic design, you will always have to sacrifice something – capacity, surface conditions or cost. Ultimately, it comes down to these three classic trade-offs.

Ergonomics vs Swivel Lead

The swivel lead is the distance between the vertical centre of the caster and the axle of the wheel. Increasing the swivel lead makes a caster easier to turn and improves maneuverability. The trade-off is that increasing the swivel lead decreases the capacity of the caster. In order to achieve ease of use, while protecting the cargo, you will have to increase the capacity and therefore the size of the caster – and that also means increasing your costs.

Ergonomics vs Wheel Specifications

There are situations where the only way to increase capacity is to increase the tread width of wheels. An example is when equipment has a fixed height requirement and that limits the overall height of the caster. Here’s the trade-off. More tread width creates more surface contact and more friction, increasing the push-pull force necessary to move equipment. Capacity comes at the expense of maneuverability.

The opposite example is crowned wheel treads that dramatically improve ease of operation because there is less wheel tread touching the floor. Again, what you gain in ergonomics you lose in capacity. And, the only other way to maintain capacity is to increase the size of the wheel, which increases costs.

Ergonomics vs Surface Conditions

The material used to make wheels has huge impact on the rollability of a caster. Steel wheels with their extraordinary hardness, have the least surface friction and are the easiest to move. At the same time, steel wheels are noisy and have a tendency to mark floors.

At the other extreme, rubber wheels are super soft, absorb shock, are very quiet and leave floors in pristine condition. That’s because there is more surface grip, but that comes at the expense of ergonomics. Unless the application or floor conditions dictate a particular tread material, the trick is to find a wheel that balances the protection of floors and the workplace environment with the best possible mobility.

In the end, you will make a better buying decision by understanding the trade-offs involved in finding the caster with an ergonomic profile that fits both your conditions and your budget.

For help choosing the caster that best meets your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

Low Profile Casters

There are two situations that call specifically for Low Profile Casters:

• Overall height is critical. This relates to equipment or fixtures that have to fit in a fixed amount of vertical space. Refrigerated showcases are a good example.

• Casters need to be functional but not visible. This is true of many store fixtures and office furniture.

By definition, a low profile caster is 3” or less in overall height – from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the top plate or raceway. The smaller height has the potential to reduce the capacity of the caster. There are many ways to compensate for that and increase capacity to as much as 2,000 lbs. They include:

• Using twin wheels
• Using a wider wheel – up to 3” – to increase the load-bearing surface
• Reducing the lead offset (distance from the centre of the wheel to the stem/kingpin) of the caster
• Using wheels (like our RollX™) that provide greater capacity, without adding weight or reducing rollability

Maneuverability is also a factor on low profile casters. Often times store fixtures or office equipment need to be easily moved from place to place. The ergonomics of the low profile caster can be enhanced by a double ball bearing raceway construction or a range of wheel bearings to improve movement. There are also a number of brakes available for these casters, including the thumb screw brake.

In applications where the caster is part of the overall aesthetic, a wide range of finishes is available. Low profile casters are also available in stainless steel for clean environments such as pharmaceuticals, food processing and technology.

The low profile caster is a great choice for office furniture, high-tech server cabinets, vending machines, medical equipment, theatre props, airport displays, retail fixtures, business machines, freezer and refrigerator showcases, industrial automatic dispensers, food/drink dispensing machines and appliances.

For help choosing the caster that best meets your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

Configurating Threaded Stem Casters

Threaded stems are the best solution when casters are being mounted to tubing or a unit with legs. That’s the easy part. Choosing the best stem-caster configuration can be complicated and involves a number of considerations. In this issue of CasterU, we present and explain your threaded stem options.

Threaded Stem as Kingpin

In this configuration the caster kingpin is a threaded stem. It’s simpler because the stem/kingpin is integrated into the construction of the caster. There is no additional assembly required in the manufacturing process. This configuration is the most economical but is also the weakest option because the caster is more vulnerable to a variety of forces.

Threaded Stem as Kingpin

This design has the stem inserted through a Bolt Hole caster. The stem is fastened with a nut and tack-welded to keep it from spinning. The advantage to this configuration is that the stem absorbs force separate from the caster. The stem can break while leaving the caster intact. This is more reliable and offers greater longevity. Not surprisingly, it comes with a higher price point.

Threaded Stem & Kingpin Free Caster

Similar to the arrangement above, a threaded stem can be inserted into a Kingpinless caster, fastened with a nut and tack-welded. This configuration combines the added capacity of the kinpinfree caster with the reliability of an inserted stem. It is very stable and very reliable, creating a long-lasting durable caster.

While the decision-making may be complex, the good news is that you have lots of options in choosing threaded stems. Even better, we can help. To find out which stem configuration is right for your application, contact your local Algood representative or call our customer service team.

Important Note

To maintain capacity ratings, casters with threaded stems must be fastened properly to the equipment on which they are being used. If not mounted correctly, the capacity of casters with threaded stems can be reduced by as much as 25%. We strongly encourage designers, engineers and users to consult with us to help determine the optimal way to fasten casters with threaded stems.

For help choosing the caster that best meets your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

Choosing the Right Inserts

Using casters on equipment, racks and furniture made from tubular steel presents some unique challenges. The priority is to make sure that the casters don’t fall out when the furniture or equipment is lifted or being moved. To keep casters tightly in place you will need inserts and they come in different materials, shapes and sizes. In this issue of CasterU we tell you what you need to know to make sure you select the right inserts.

Size

Alert: Some of this information gets a little complicated. The more you can channel your algebra skills, the easier it will be.

Size is probably the most important specification to ensure that inserts fit properly. First, you will need to know the stem size of the caster you are ordering. To calculate the size of the insert required, you need three key tube measurements – inner diameter (ID), outer diameter (OD) and the thickness or gauge (G). But don’t worry. Because they are represented by an equation, you can get by with two of them. Essentially, it works like this:

Thickness = (OD-ID)/2

To standardize measurements, thicknesses are grouped into gauge values. For example, a gauge value of 22 ranges from .025” to .029” thick. To make things really confusing, the greater the thickness of the tubing the lower the gauge. So, for example, 22 gauge is about .028” thick but 7 gauge is .18” thick.

Another Alert: Even if your steel tubing supplier has specified the gauge you will be receiving, you would be wise to still do the calculation above. Small variances in thickness can result in higher or lower gauge values and the possibility of ordering inserts that don’t fit.

Material

Inserts can be made from plastic, steel or die cast iron. Plastic inserts have more give and would be better in situations where you want the insert to expand to fit snugly. Floor conditions may also be a factor. Because plastic inserts may move slightly, they may not be the best choice for uneven or rugged surfaces.

Steel inserts are less malleable and therefore have less give than plastic. They are a better choice when size specifications are more precise and provide a more stable ride. They are also better suited to higher capacities.

Die cast inserts have the least give but provide the greatest strength. They are ideal for the highest capacities and the most stable ride, but require precise size calculations.

Shape

The appropriate insert shape is determined by the shape of the stem and the shape of the tubing. So, round inserts are used in round tubing. There are round inserts designed to fit stems that are tapered and those that are not. For square tubing you would use a square insert that accommodates a round stem. Also, inserts are made with various kinds of ridges and teeth to improve the fit.

Inserts for Wood

Separate from those used for tubing, there are inserts specifically designed for use on wood legs – usually as part of furniture. The standard stem size for wood is .375 or ⅜” diameter and therefore inserts for wood are all the same size. Wood is subject to expansion and contraction making it difficult to keep inserts in place. That’s why most inserts for wood are designed with teeth on the edge that bite into the wood.

We are Insert Experts

Algood absolutely has the largest selection of inserts available with its casters. More importantly, our sales reps and customer service team know all about inserts and can guide you through the complicated, but critical process of specifying the right inserts.

For help choosing selecting the inserts that best meets your needs, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.

Signs your Casters are Giving Up

Choosing the right casters and maintaining them are a good way to protect your mobility investment. But we all know that casters are often out of sight and therefore out of mind and don’t always get the attention they deserve. At the same time, there can be some pretty precious cargo riding on those casters and if one or more of them fails, the results can be very costly. Minimally, failed casters are a pain in the butt because they require immediate attention. So, to help you know when it’s time to call Caster 911, in this issue of CasterU we present some of the signs that your casters are about to give up on you.

Extreme Noise

If your casters are screeching or rattling, it could mean that they are badly in need of lubrication. In general, casters should be lubricated twice a year. Extreme noise could also indicate that the wheel bearing has seized or is about to seize. It could also mean that the wrong wheel bearing type is being used. For example, a caster may be experiencing more side thrust than originally anticipated, meaning that it really needs a tapered bearing. Finally, extreme noise could mean that the yoke is worn or that the caster is misaligned.

Push & Pull Problems

Equipment that has become significantly harder to push could be the result of corrosion or rust on the caster. This can also be the result of casters being used at excessive speeds and, in turn, leading to overheating or damage to the hub.

If equipment is much harder to turn, there is likely a problem with the swivel yoke or rig. This could be the result of brinelling which occurs when ball bearings create a groove in the cap of the raceway that limits the swivel of the caster.

Uneven Wheel Wear or Flat Spots

Flat spots may indicate that foreign material, such as string, thread, metal or dirt is causing wheels to bind. It could also be that the wheel material is not appropriate for the temperatures or environment in which the caster is being used.

Frame Distortion

This can be due to overall loads that exceed capacity. It can also be the result of excessive impact loads, which occur when equipment goes over a large bump and the resulting g-force magnifies the load beyond the capacity of the casters.

Top Plate Detachment

If equipment goes over an obstacle or is subject to severe conditions, the top plate may bend, separating it from the equipment. This could also indicate that the wrong hardware or washers were used to install the caster.

Bent Stem or Kingpin

This can happen as a result of a collision with other equipment or impact with an obstacle. Uneven loads where one caster bears much more weight than the others could also cause this contortion.

If you notice any of the above, it’s an emergency and your casters likely need replacing. Of course, using the right casters and ensuring they are properly maintained will prevent a 911 call.

For help or advice on how to avoid a caster catastrophe, contact your Algood Sales Rep or reach out to our customer service team by email service@algood.com or by phone at +1 (800) 254-6633.