A caster is an assembly that consists of a non-powered wheel and a mount. Generally, caster wheels support and make it easy to maneuver shopping carts, office chairs, and medical beds, among other equipment. Moreover, they are available in numerous designs based on operational requirements, providing mobility options for a wide range of applications.
The applications that utilize caster wheels require precise sizing to accommodate the terrain on which they will be used and the weights they are expected to carry. For instance, heavy loads need casters with thicker wheels, and larger objects need multiple wheels to evenly distribute the loads. Furthermore, caster wheels can be made using varying manufacturing processes, two of which we will outline below.
Metal Plate Cutting Process
In this process, the top plate is cut first. This plate is used to mount the caster underneath the object. To begin, a thick sheet of steel is cut by a CNC, a thermal cutting technique that takes advantage of an ionized gas to cut metal. Instead of mechanically cutting into the metal, this technique uses heat to melt the metal. Then, the fork element is cut.
Usually made of steel coil, forks are the arms that hold each side of the wheel axle. The steel coil is rolled out and fed into a punch press machine which breaks it with the yoke shaped dye. Moreover, the broken yoke shaped pieces are situated onto a forming press that bends the piece into the desired shape and makes a circular groove around the hole in the center.
At this point, the hole is filled with steel ball bearings that enable the yoke to swivel. A steel retainer is fitted to keep the bearings in place, while the grooves of the steel cap are filled with ball bearings. The cap is placed onto a punch press with the yoke on top. The press affixes the cap to the yoke’s retainer, so that the ball bearings are wedged in between. Once the top plate has been riveted to the yoke, a steel seal must be put over the retainer and locked into position with a pneumatic press.
Rubber or Nylon Extrusion
The next machining process is accomplished through the extrusion of the wheel material. First, nylon inserts are placed in an injection molding press that melts the neoprene rubber and injects it into the mold. Once cooled to a solid state, the machine ejects rubber wedged wheels which are capable of absorbing shock, reducing noise, and preventing damage to the floor or surface.
Types of Caster Wheels
There are a few common types of caster wheels, some of which we will cover in this section.
Cast Iron and Semi-Steel Caster Wheels
Typically made of gray iron, cast iron and semi-steel caster wheels are abrasion-resistant and long-lasting. They necessitate little effort to start rolling and are designed for high-capacity applications. Additionally, these wheels operate well in environments exposed to mild chemicals or in oily and greasy areas.
Ferrous Wheels
Equipped with the highest load capacity, impact resistance, temperature range, and rollability when compared to their counterparts, ferrous wheels are often go-to choices for many applications. Their durable, solid structure is composed of forged steel or cast iron, making it ideal for harsh conditions such as those found in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
Pneumatic Caster Wheels
Pneumatic caster wheels are made of rubber that has been filled with air to provide ample floor protection. With the capacity to roller over diverse obstacles, pneumatic caster wheels have a wide mobile range over many floor surfaces.
Other Common Types:
- Flanged Caster Wheels
- Forged Steel or Ductile Steel Caster Wheels
- Glass Filled Nylon Caster Wheels
- Hard Rubber Caster Wheels
- Polyolefin Caster Wheels
Conclusion
ASAP NSN Hub is a leading supplier of caster wheels, all of which have been vetted for fit and function. With countless new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find options, customers can easily find items that fit their price points. Get started with a competitive quote today and see how ASAP NSN Hub can serve as your strategic sourcing partner!
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When managing an aircraft or a fleet of such vehicles, one may find that purchasing and sourcing parts can be one of the more difficult aspects of overall operations. That being said, procurement does not have to be a challenge, and having an understanding of how to be properly organized can make the process much simpler. This is not to say that planning, processing, chasing, and tracing are not all individually important, but that they all must be carried out in an organized fashion to ensure little to no hiccups or stalls along the way.
When one considers the typical day for an aircraft parts buyer, it is easy to understand how the position can be quite hectic as internal and external demands always arise. While colleagues may charge you with creating and placing orders, you will also have to handle order fulfillment, supplier questions, canceled orders, payment requests, and much more. With a variety of roles that need to be executed simultaneously, organization is the key for avoiding frustration, stress, and loss of time. To ensure that you best utilize your resources, skills, and time, you need to establish a strategy and follow through.
As the first step of formulating an effective purchasing strategy, you should create an end-goal of some sort. This can be an objective of finding the lowest cost for a part, or primarily being concerned with how fast it can be delivered upon payment. Depending on this end-goal, the steps toward reaching it will greatly differ, making it important to create this end before moving forward. As an example, if you want to work with a reputable operator who can get you parts in five days, the desired element of getting parts fast is already set in stone, and the concerns of cost will come through reverse engineering.
You could try to shop around with multiple vendors, but that has its own drawbacks such as creating roadblocks and pauses as more and more choices have to be considered. The more people you contact will also increase the amount of emails, messages, and phone calls you have to handle, increasing your workload and stress. While some individuals may find this to be perfectly fine, others may find that the great increase of deal management can actually detract from the original goal of saving time or money. As such, thinking through the process that you may have to undertake, as well as the various roadblocks you may face, can help you have a much more solid plan to achieve the end goal that you originally set out for yourself.
One way to make your procurement duties easier is to develop a relationship with a reputable distributor that can bring you a balance of all your time and cost needs, allowing you to save time and money with ease. Additionally, building a relationship with distributors can help you avoid always having to do research for each order, as you will already have a reliable source that you can trust for fulfilling all your various requirements. Luckily for you, ASAP NSN Hub is a very reputable distributor belonging to the ASAP Semiconductor family of websites, and we are your solution for all the various parts and components you require for carrying out your duties.
ASAP NSN Hub is a premier purchasing platform for Important components of all types, and we are your solution for the purchasing of aircraft parts that you currently require. With our market expertise and purchasing power, we always strive to get the best deal possible for our customers to save them time and money. Additionally, we also utilize our expansive supply chain network stretching across the United States to ensure expedited shipping speeds for your benefit. Take the time to explore our offerings as you see fit, and our team is always on standby 24/7x365 to assist customers throughout the purchasing process with customized quotes for your comparisons.
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Industrial springs are common hardware components that are often overlooked, typically being mounted within an assembly of moving parts. Crucial to motion control and industrial equipment, industrial springs may be found in door closing systems, the mechanical seals of rotary unions, and much more. While there are numerous types of industrial springs that one may use, the most common variations that serve industrial applications include compression, extension, and torsion springs.
Compression springs are a type that are capable of resisting axial compressive forces, serving as the most efficient type in regard to energy storage. As force is exerted on the spring, the component will begin to compress and build up energy. Once the spring is able to return to its standard position, the built-up energy is released against the load, pushing it back. A common type of compression spring is the wave spring that of which features a flat wire with waves at each turn. With their availability to provide high force while having a lower working height, such devices serve vibration isolators and bearing retention applications.
Extension springs differ from compression springs, serving to resist the tensile forces that pull them apart. Through the use of coiling, initial tension is provided. This ensures that the spring exhibits pulling forces when extended for the means of returning to a resting state. With loops or hooks situated at each end of the spring, components can be attached and held together through the force of the spring. While compression springs feature zero load while at zero deflection, extension springs have a load at zero deflection as a result of their initial tension. For their industrial applications, extension springs may commonly be found on medical devices and automated equipment door mechanisms.
Torsion springs are a more specialized type as compared to the compression and extension spring, featuring resistance to twisting forces rather than compression or axial tension. For their construction, such springs are helically wound, featuring arms on each end that rotate around the component’s central axis. The arms are always attached to various components, allowing for a load to be exerted on the spring itself. When an application requires a high amount of torque for proper functionality, two torsion springs may be paired with a space between the two. These assemblies are known as double torsion springs. While torsion springs are very common, one typical use is to be used as a clothespin.
In the realm of aviation, industrial springs find many uses on an aircraft. Within the landing gear, compression springs are found within poppet returns, slat servos, and slat controls. Meanwhile, extension springs facilitate the operation of boom latches, automatic patch levers, and other various systems. With the use of a torsion spring, tall cone levers, passenger door entrances, and other parts can operate with ease. As a result, having various industrial springs on hand can ensure the continued operation of countless aircraft systems and components, proving their use and importance.
ASAP NSN Hub is a premier purchasing platform owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we are your sourcing solution for high quality parts and components that have been sourced from thousands of top global manufacturers that we trust. Take the time to explore our offerings as you see fit, and our team is always on standby to assist you through the purchasing process as necessary. Due to our dedication to quality control and export compliance, we proudly operate with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B certification and accreditation. Get started with us today and see why customers choose to steadily rely on ASAP NSN Hub for all their operational needs.
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Exhaust systems are undoubtedly the bowels of any vehicle, automobile, or aircraft. The main function of the exhaust system is to allow for the smooth propulsion of gas emission from an engine out to its surrounding environment. This allows for proper gas exchange to take place in order to optimize fuel usage and energy output. In theory, this function could be performed by any metal tubing that leads from the engine to the tailpipe, however, there are many other requirements that must be considered in order for an exhaust system to function effectively. According to Federal Aviation Association (FAA) regulations, the exhaust system of an aircraft must be able to withstand high temperatures, corrosion, vibration and inertia loads, and must have means for flexibility in addition to performing its typical roles.
A structural aspect that must be put into consideration in designing an exhaust system is the maintenance of back pressure. The engine propels outward, creating a pressure that flows out. However, if there are too many bends, or if the piping of the exhaust system is too small, then the air pressure could build up in the opposite direction of the exhaust system, creating what is known as “back pressure”. The higher the back pressure, the more energy is needed for the exhaust to expel the gases outward. If the back pressure is higher that of the exhaust system, then the back pressure completely cancels out the exhaust and nothing gets expelled. To prevent this, exhaust pipes need to be wide enough and allow for optimal air flow. If pipes are too wide, not enough pressure will be built up, and the air will move too slowly.
Another consideration for a properly functioning exhaust system would be the routing of the exhaust pipes. Commercial aircraft exhaust can reach temperatures of 2000?, which can melt the cowling and other parts of the engines. The exhaust pipes must be designed in a way that is clear from areas that are unable to withstand such temperatures. The cowling around the engine may need adjustment in order to allow for adequate room for proper routing. However, it should also be noted that there will be a large difference between top temperatures of commercial planes and experimental builds.
Although not as important, you should be mindful of how much noise your aircraft creates. The sudden expulsion of air from any source can result in an audible sound, whether that be flatulence or exhaust. The engine is the lifeline of an aircraft, but the process of carrying away gas from the engine system can result in very loud sounds. This is why zero emission cars, such as any of the Tesla automobiles, create little to no sound when in use. Loud noise can be a distraction for pilots and pose as an overall safety concern. Unfortunately, the sound created from an aircraft is largely influenced by the structure of the exhaust system.
At ASAP NSN Hub, owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we can help you fulfill all your engine cowling, aircraft exhaust system, or exhaust piping needs, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we’re always available and ready to help you find everything you need, 24/7x365. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapnsnhub.com or call us at +1-920-785-6790.
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