Gizmo, the 6 foot, 600 pound wise-cracking interactive robot performer was feeling a little lethargic.
This "charmer in armor" needed some new wheels.
So he turned to a place he trusted... CasterDepot!
Now, with his new wheels, Gizmo D. Robot's back to his energetic, hilarious self.
Check out this clip of Gizmo in action on the Atlantic City boardwalk!
Durometer is a measurement of an item's hardness. While several different durometer scales exist, the caster industry most commonly references the Shore A and Shore D scales. Each of these scales associates a number with a particular hardness. The higher the number, the harder an item is on that durometer scale.
Knowing a wheel's durometer allows helps us determine the perfect solution for any caster application. A couple general rules of thumb:
Harder Wheels (Higher on the Durometer Scale)
Are often easier to push or pull
Can usually support more weight
Softer Wheels (Lower on the Durometer Scale)
Are often quieter
Generally provide better floor protection
A caster’s swivel lead is the measured distance from the vertical centerline of the swivel section to the vertical centerline of the wheel.
And once you know the swivel lead, it’s easy to calculate the swivel radius.
There are a couple of reasons why it's important to know a caster’s swivel radius:
Note: It’s crucial that no obstructions exist within a caster’s swivel radius.
Another note: Sometimes brakes (or caster options like toe guards) can project past the outer edge of the wheel and extend the swivel radius.
Swivel casters pivot as a cart turns. And while this is good news for maneuverability and ergonomics, it can create difficulty in accessing certain types of side brakes. There are two schools of thought on this:
Position half of the brakes on one side of the caster, half on the other
Advantages: The brakes are accessible on both sides of the cart when the caster is is the trailing position
Disadvantages: None of the brakes are accessible if the caster is in a leading position
Position all brakes on the same side of the caster
Advantages: A brake is always accessible, whether a caster is in a trailing or a leading position
Disadvantages: A brake is only accessible from one side of the cart at any point
While there is certainly no “right” answer to this dilemma, CasterDepot side brakes are by default positioned on the same side. Let us know if you’d prefer us to assemble them differently when placing your order.
There are many different caster brakes available. Let's take a quick look at how four of the most common types work.
To engage a side tread lock brake, one side of the lever is pushed down. This moves the L-bar closer to the wheel tread. As the L-bar touches the tread, it creates tension and prevents the wheel from spinning. The more the lever is pushed down, the more the brake engages.
To engage a CAM brake, one side of the lever is pushed down. This puts tension on the wheel hub and prevents the wheel from spinning. The more the lever is pushed down, the more the brake engages.
CAM brakes are sometimes preferred for larger casters.
To engage a tech lock brake, a pedal is pushed down. This causes a metal piece to press against the wheel tread. The tension it creates prevents the wheel from spinning.
Tech lock brakes are either fully engaged or disengaged, which eliminates some of the human error inherent in side brakes.
Like other caster brakes, total lock brakes prevent the wheel from spinning. But they also lock the swivel section to keep the caster from rotating.
To engage a total lock brake, a pedal is pushed down. This causes a metal piece to press against the wheel tread. The tension it creates prevents the wheel from spinning. At the same time, gears connect between the metal piece and the caster raceway. The interlocking gears prevent the caster from rotating.
Newton’s Laws of Motion prove it’s harder to slide an object than to roll it. This is because when an object slides, the friction causes it to slow down. Less friction is generated when objects roll over each other.
Bearings are designed to help a wheel roll over an axle, spanner bushing or shaft. They are especially effective in helping propel a resting object and keep it moving.
There are three main types of caster wheel bearings:
A roller bearing is composed of a series of small cylinders that are contained within a circular housing. The cylinders then roll against a hardened, smooth-surfaced spanner bushing or shaft. Roller bearings are typically not sealed. This allows for easy maintenance, but can also introduce contamination.
A ball bearing contains miniature balls within a circular housing. Because the balls have relatively small contact points, ball bearings create less friction and provide better rollability. Ball bearings are typically sealed and are useful in keeping contamination out. They also offer quiet operation.
A plain bearing does not feature a designed rolling mechanism. Rather the spanner bushing or axle slides directly against a smooth inner surface. Plain bearings can be an adequate option when corrosion resistance is required, for washdown applications or when ease of rolling is less critical.
ISO, or the International Organization of Standards, is an independent, non-governmental, global federation of 165 national standards bodies. These bodies work to develop voluntary, consensus-based international standards. Standards can be thought of as formulas for the best way of doing something.
What is QMS?
“QMS” is shorthand for Quality Management System. Organizations often put Quality Management Systems in place to improve performance and reduce quality related failures.
ISO 9001 QMS Certification focuses on the following principles:
Meet customer requirements and strive to exceed expectations
Establish purpose, direction and alignment
Ensure competency, emopowerment and engagement
Understand and manage as a system of interrrealated processes
Seek continual improvement
Make decisions based on the analysis and evaluation of data
Foster great relationships with all parties
Why is this important?
We are trusted every day to consistently provide superior-quality caster and wheel solutions. We take this responsibility very seriously. Our decision to pursue and obtain ISO 9001 QMS Certification demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality product every time.
We've all heard the term ergonomics thrown around. But what does it mean? And how does that relate to casters?
Ergonomics is the science and practice of designing jobs or workplaces to match the capabilities and limitations of the human body. Many jobs involve pushing or pulling carts or equipment. Using intentionally ergonomic casters on carts can go a long way in making a workplace safer and more efficient.
There are several factors involved in ergonomic caster design.
In general, the larger the wheel diameter, the greater the ergonomic benefit
In general, the harder the wheel, the greater the ergonomic benefit
Some types of wheel material, like polyurethane, offer ergonomic benefits over other types
Some types of bearings, like sealed precision ball bearings, offer ergonomic benefits over other types
Some types of rigs, like kingpinless, offer ergonomic benefits over other types
In general, the more extended the lead, the greater the ergonomic benefit
In general, the more crowned the wheel face, the greater the ergonomic benefit
Questions about what ergonomic caster is right for you? Stop by or give us a call. We've been the expert in casters and wheels for more than 40 years.
Check out this cool DIY project recently shared by one of our clients.
Step 1: Collect a length of bowling lane, 7 iron rods, 2 swivel phenolic casters (C009.006), 2 rigid phenolic casters (C009.005) & a floor lock (F001.191).
Step 2: Assemble into a beautiful table.
Step 3: Finish the sides and add the perfect stools.
This turned out so beautifully, we're wanting to make one too!
If only we could remember where we left that spare bowling lane...
A janitorial cart isn’t very useful unless it’s tough and versatile.
The same thing can be said about janitorial cart casters.
Most janitorial cart casters attach using either a top plate, grip ring stem or a threaded stem.
It is critical to select the correct mounting type for the cart.
Janitorial carts are often used on a variety of flooring types, so it is important that the caster wheels are able to perform well on multiple surfaces.
And since they will likely be exposed to a variety of elements, the wheels must be able to tolerate water, chemicals and oil.
We recommend using TPR (thermoplastic rubber) wheels in janitorial applications because they are:
Non-marking
Floor Protectant
Oil and chemical resistant
Excellent in wet conditions
High performing across multiple flooring surfaces
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about janitorial cart casters, don't hesitate to reach out to one of our caster experts. We are only a call, click or visit away.
