How To Select AGV Casters

Things To Consider When Buying AGV Casters

You need to pull all stops when looking for the best AGV casters. AGVs, or automated guided vehicles, are commonly used in industries and warehouses, and you have likely come across one at some point. For those of you who don’t know, AGVs don’t need an operator on board. The vehicle moves using lasers and other marking devices that can help the vehicle navigate a direction.

Since AGVs take very large loads from one place to another, their wheels become one of the essential parts of the entire vehicle. Since there is no operator, the vehicle needs smooth and easy maneuvering while easily being able to keep up with the giant loads.

It may be easy to overlook the importance of AGV wheels; after all, they are the last part of the entire vehicle, and you can easily consider them to be highly uninteresting. But picking the correct AGV wheel is of extreme importance. Since wheels are so specific, and most people are unable to show any level of expertise in wheel selection, you usually turn online and wonder if we strangers will give you good advice about the wheels on your AGV. Well, today is your lucky day since if you are trying to understand proper wheel selection, here are the things you should think about:

Load Capacity

The AGV is built with the intention of moving heavy loads without an operator, and therefore the load capacity of the wheel should be adequate. AGVs are sometimes required to carry 200,000 lbs of weight, but this is not true for all facilities and industries.

Understand the maximum load that you will be putting up on the AGV and pick the wheel accordingly. Manufacturers usually have set categories of AGV wheels that show a certain capacity, and you should know the amount of load you can drop onto those wheels for the AGV to be able to carry it easily.

Speed

There are warehouse environments where high-speed AGVs are essential and then there are environments that have slow AGVs, with heavy loads and heavy-duty wheels, that take their sweet time to get to their destinations, and it is preferred since the load should remain unharmed. Therefore, speed is an important consideration in wheel selection. Lightweight wheels that carry smaller loads are naturally much quicker than heavy-duty casters or casters with pneumatic coatings. Do not pick a heavy-duty caster for the extra load if your work environment requires quick and efficient labor. Gauge the situation accordingly, and only then should you invest in a wheel that works for you.

Ergonomics

If the AGV does not have an operator, why should the ergonomics matter? The workers will probably be moving it with the help of some equipment. However, if the workers have a hard time making the AGV move because they are unable to push it properly or the load is too heavy to allow the vehicle to move, it is probable that the worker might injure themselves involuntarily. Therefore you should make it a point to buy the correct AGV caster wheel so that the worker is able to navigate the facility with it without too much strain.

Type Of Wheel

There are a wide variety of AGV caster wheels that you can choose from. Each of them serves a different function, and you should gauge if they are suitable for your needs before investing in them any further:

Standard

Standard AGV caster wheels can move nearly 20,000 lbs of weight around in a facility. They are affordable and readily available and are excellent for more functions. They do not require copious amounts of maintenance like many other wheels do because they do their job well and are designed to fit most situations. The only thing you have to be careful about using standard wheels is not to overload the AGV and not use it on rough flooring.

Twin

Twin casters are exactly what they sound like: You get two casters in one! And there are so many advantages to them, such as improved load capacity, elegant design, and the best of all: they are highly maneuverable. Each wheel moves on its own, and turns are a breeze.

Kingpinless

For very high loads that might exceed 200,000 lbs, Kingpinless wheels are the best choice.

Heavy-Duty

Heavy-duty wheels are slow and carry massive loads carefully.

Customized

If none of the pre-existing wheels suit your needs, you can get some wheels customized by the AGV wheels manufacturer as well!

Shock Absorption

If your facility has a rough floor or the AGV is expected to move on rough floors instead of smooth ones, the wheel requires a certain degree of shock absorption. Shock absorption AGV wheels also helps to protect the load on the AGV, and the coating can be added for an extra cost.

Material

For AGV casters, polyurethane is one of the best available materials. It is quiet, glides easily, and often consists of steel construction. It is a highly versatile material that will be beneficial in many scenarios. Steel or aluminum cores are more long-lasting compared to cast-iron cores, even though cast-iron cores are affordable.

Plates

The plates attached to the casters are excellent for increasing the load capacity of the caster wheel while also absorbing the impact of the drop loads that may occur. These plates have been revolutionary in the design and efficient functionality of casters.

Locks And Brakes

The locks and brakes present on AGVs should be easy to access and tough. AGVs usually carry heavy and delicate loads, which can be compromised if the vehicle is not set in the place where it was meant to be. Therefore, the locks and brakes are essential to the AGV.

Affordability

Last but not least, it is important that the wheels you select are affordable. If you spend an obscene amount of money on the AGV casters for features that are unnecessary in your line of work, you will likely end up with clunky and bulky wheels that might get in the way instead of being useful. Therefore, make sure you have a budget that you have decided and you buy the AGV casters accordingly. 

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