Not all casters are restricted to a fixed back-and-forth movement. There are many different types of casters, some of which can roll in all directions. Swivel casters and omnidirectional casters, for example, offer a superior level of mobility compared to fixed casters.
What Are Swivel Casters?
Swivel casters are characterized by a swivel mechanism that allows the wheel to rotate 360 degrees around a vertical axis. The wheel is typically mounted within a fork or yoke. When you push an object with swivel casters in a particular direction, the fork or yoke will turn the wheel in that direction.
Most shopping carts at grocery stores use swivel casters. They feature four swivel casters — one on each bottom corner. Because the wheel rotates around a vertical axis, you can easily turn shopping carts by pushing them in the desired direction.
What Are Omnidirectional Casters?
Omnidirectional casters are characterized by rollers that allow them to turn in different directions. They still feature a primary wheel. The wheel, though, isn’t completely smooth and solid. Instead, it features many smaller wheels, known as rollers, that run perpendicular to it.
The rollers on omnidirectional casters are designed to rotate independently of the primary wheel. The rollers may rotate to the side, for instance, while the primary wheel rolls forward.
Differences Between Swivel and Omnidirectional Casters
While they can both roll in different directions, swivel and omnidirectional casters aren’t the same. They use different mechanisms to rotate. Swivel casters use a swivel mechanism, such as a fork or yoke, whereas omnidirectional casters use perpendicular-aligned rollers.
Swivel casters often cost less than omnidirectional casters. They feature a simpler design consisting of a wheel attached to a swivel mechanism. Omnidirectional casters are more complex because they incorporate an array of rollers into their design, which often results in a higher price tag.
Swivel casters are typically better suited for heavy loads. With a single, solid wheel, they distribute the weight of the object across the floor or ground. Omnidirectional casters have a primary wheel and many rollers. The presence of these rollers concentrates the load to specific areas.
Omnidirectional casters, on the other hand, eliminate the risk of caster flutter. Caster flutter is a phenomenon that involves the wheel of a caster oscillating rapidly from side to side. Omnidirectional casters use rollers instead of a single, fixed wheel, so they don’t suffer from caster flutter.