Plate Casters: As the most common type, plate casters are characterized by their flat, square-shaped mounting surface. Often, they will have four holes, one on each corner of the mounting device, that are used to secure the plate caster to an object. To install, bolts or screws can be used for a permanent hold. Aside from providing easy installation, the square shape of these casters has excellent weight distribution so they are often preferred for larger loads.
Locking Casters: Most conventional casters are designed to roll and swivel freely. While this may work well for many applications, some require an additional locking mechanism to keep an object firmly in place. When a workbench with casters is placed on a sloped surface for example, it may roll downhill unless the caster wheels remain locked in place. Locking casters offer the capability to lock the wheels in place to prevent a mounted object from swiveling or rolling at inappropriate times. As locking casters can come with different mounting surface shapes, they are defined simply by the addition of a locking tool, that is usually a small tab which can be flipped to secure the wheel.
Stem Casters: Whereas plate coasters have flat, square-shaped mounting surfaces, stem casters feature a cylindrical-shaped rod for mounting. The cylindrical-shaped rod is placed inside an object’s mounting slot of the same shape and size. Some stem casters include a threaded rod, while others feature plain round rods. Though they generally have less load-bearing capacity than plate casters, stem casters are useful where space is limited and a mounting plate would not fit in the area provided.
Hollow Kingpin Casters: These casters consist of a stemless design with a hole on the top of the mounting surface. To mount the hollow kingpin caster, the caster is positioned against the object, and a fastener is driven through the hole, attaching it to the object above it. Typically, hollow kingpin casters are used on objects where space is limited, taking up even less area than a stem caster.
Rigid Casters: Rigid casters, also known as fixed casters, are characterized by their limited range of movement. Unlike other types, rigid casters cannot swivel in a complete 360-degree range. Instead, they can only roll forwards and backwards. Rigid casters are stronger than conventional casters because of their design so they are often used for very heavy objects.
Conclusion
As a simple but effective way for moving heavy objects and machinery, caster wheels come in several different types including some with locking capabilities and different mounting surfaces. When you are in need of high-quality industrial machinery and equipment, we at Stacked NSN are well-equipped to supply you with all that you require to fulfill your operational requirements. As a trusted distributor for all kinds of aircraft and industrial parts, including caster wheels, countless of our featured items have been quality-tested and have been exclusively sourced from leading manufacturers on our Approved Vendor List (AVL). We invite you to browse our inventory of parts in stock and available for purchase on our website. If any of our items pique your interest, you may submit an RFQ to receive a custom quote for your comparisons in just 15 minutes or less!
 |
“We Proudly Support Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund that serves United States Military Personal experiencing the Invisible Wounds of War : Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Please visit website (www.fallenheroesfund.org) and help in their valiant effort”. |
We Hope that You Will Visit Us Again the Next Time You Need NSN Parts and Make Us Your Strategic Purchasing Partner.
Request for Quote