Not all casters have the same wheel type. While many of them feature two-part wheels, some feature monolithic wheels.
Monolithic caster wheels are commonly used in environments where extreme temperatures or chemicals are a concern. Thanks to their unique construction, they can withstand harsh environments such as this — all while rolling smoothly and with little or no resistance. What are monolithic caster wheels exactly, and how do they differ from two-part wheels?
The Basics of Monolithic Caster Wheels
Monolithic caster wheels are characterized by a solid construction. They aren’t made of multiple parts or materials. The term “monolithic” is used to describe something that’s made of a single, solid material. Monolithic caster wheels are no exception. While available in different types of materials, all monolithic caster wheels consist of a single, solid piece of material.
Monolithic vs 2-Part Caster Wheels
All caster wheels facilitate rolling, but some of them feature a one-piece design, whereas others feature a two-part design. Monolithic caster wheels fall under the former category. They are characterized by a one-piece design without any separately bonded parts.
Two-part caster wheels, on the other hand, feature two separate parts. They typically feature an inner core and an outer tread. The inner core is usually made of a soft material, such as polyolefin or nylon. The outer core is usually made of a harder material, such as hard rubber or polyurethane.
When to Use Monolithic Caster Wheels
You might be wondering what advantages monolithic caster wheels offer over traditional two-part caster wheels. Since they are made of a single, solid piece of material, monolithic caster wheels may last longer. There are no joints or seams that can fail. Instead, monolithic caster wheels lack these potential points of failure, making them very durable.
Another reason to use monolithic caster wheels is a high load capacity. All casters are designed to handle loads. After all, they are mounted on the bottom of furniture or equipment, so they must support the weight of these objects. Monolithic caster wheels, however, have a higher load capacity than many other types of caster wheels. They distribute loads evenly throughout their solid body, allowing them to carry more weight than other caster wheels.
If you’re looking for caster wheels that are easy to roll, you may want to choose monolithic wheels. They produce less rolling resistance than many other types of caster wheels. Monolithic caster wheels are typically made of a hard material. With their hard and solid construction, they don’t experience the same level of flexing as their softer counterparts, resulting in a smooth rolling operation with very little resistance.