Air casters 101

Anyone who has worked around large machinery, whether they are factory automation systems or large medical devices, understands that moving these machines can be difficult. Many large machines are equipped with wheels or rollers, but even moving them infrequently can cause serious floor damage. Trying to turn and maneuver the equipment can also be very difficult. This article describes a solution to eliminating floor damage and making maneuvering much easier. The solution is to use compressed air to float the machinery on a number of donut-shaped balloons called air casters. After completely inflating, the balloons will begin to release air, which creates a very thin frictionless layer. This allows the machinery to be easily moved in any direction. The air casters will work on almost any floor surface, but they are most effective on non-porous surfaces such as the concrete floors found in most factories. The balloons are only 2 inches tall, which means they can be slid under most loads, or they can be permanently installed under the equipment for frequent movement. The one potential danger is a sloped floor, but the article provides a way to determine the necessary manpower per degree of slope in the floor.   Read the full article at Machine Design.

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