ERGONOMICS

Atlas challenges the notion that you can't move heavy loads on smaller wheels.  Our dual wheel casters easily negotiate common obstacles like door-jams, cracks, and grates and they perform better ergonomically than most casters with wheels twice the size.  At high loads, moving heavy equipment on casters by hand can be very difficult.  Compared to other industrial casters, our casters have several distinct advantages when it comes to ergonomics:

  • the high wheel offset reduces the swivel force
  • the differential action between the wheels reduces floor contact friction 
  • the flat tread on our polyurethane wheels resists flat-spotting for lower starting forces
Test Conditions

Apparatus: A steel frame with four Atlas Casters was evenly loaded with crates of solid steel material as shown in the picture above.  The crate was weighed with a high resolution digital scale and additional weights were placed on top to vary the load. 

Test Conditions: All ergonomic tests were conducted on a level and dry concrete floor that was swept clear of any debris.  The wheels used in testing were in a slightly used condition.

Tests: Two tests were performed to compare the ergonomic performance of the various wheel/ bearing combinations.  Test A recorded the maximum pull force required to move the cart with all casters in alignment.  Test B performed the same measurement with the two rear wheels cocked at a 90º angle.  Each test was conducted at least eight times with less than a minute between each move.  The results were averaged and presented with the standard deviation of the data, i.e., the average uncertainty in the measurement.


500 Series Test Results
WHEEL MTRL WHEEL BRG CODE TEST 1000 LBS 1500 LBS 2000 LBS  
Phenolic Plain PHN A 20 ± 1.6 32 ± 2.9 43 ± 1.8  
B 23 ± 2.6 33 ± 1.6 44 ± 2.5
Polyurethane 75D Delrin PXD A 33 ± 2.0 52 ± 3.2 68 ± 3.9
B 41 ± 1.8 63 ± 2.6 89 ± 4.3
Polyurethane 75D Precision PXP A 9 ± 1.3 13 ± 2.9 18 ± 2.3
B 34 ± 1.2 50 ± 2.2 67 ± 4.7
1000 Series Test Results
WHEEL MTRL WHEEL BRG CODE TEST 2000 LBS 2500 LBS 3000 LBS 3500 LBS 4000 LBS
Phenolic Plain PHN A 40 ± 4.4 49 ± 3.3 73 ± 3.5 - - - -
B 35 ± 3.6 47 ± 4.1 62 ± 2.0 - - - -
Polyurethane 75D Delrin PXD A 64 ± 3.5 96 ± 5.3 108 ± 2.1 130 ± 5.0 - -
B 87 ± 3.3 102 ± 3.1 108 ± 3.2 151 ± 9.8 - -
Polyurethane 75D Precision PXP A 18 ± 2.4 39 ± 2.9 48 ± 4.7 64 ± 5.3 79 ± 5.3
B 60 ± 2.4 65 ± 4.3 85 ± 5.6 100 ± 5.8 124 ± 6.2
NOTES
  • all measurements are in pounds force.
  • for delrin and plain bearings, the force to sustain motion is within 70-90% of the Test A value. For precision bearings, this force is much lower.
  • two or more people are generally required where test B values exceed 75 lbs.
  • the force between moves can vary substantially depending on the time between moves.  This is especially true for the polyurethane wheels where the starting force can increase by 50% if left sitting for just 15 minutes.  For susequent moves, the results above apply.