Wheels are essential in helping bikes, automobiles, lawnmowers, and other pieces of equipment maneuver. Casters, on the other hand, are needed for office chairs, portable tool boxes, medical equipment, food service carts, and more. Many people have trouble explaining the difference between the two. Review the following information to help you decipher their differences. 

What's the Difference Between a Wheel & a Caster?

Wheels

The wheel is one of the earliest machines invented by ancient humans. Developed 5,000 years ago or more, it’s a circular object that rotates around a fixed center shaft or axle. Its purpose is to make heavy items easier to move by reducing friction and enabling them to roll across the ground.

Wheels of different shapes are often connected and used to increase the force or rotation speed of an object. Wheels typically only spin in a single dimension, although machines like automobiles enable operators to adjust the angle of the axle to steer.

Casters 

Casters are a more advanced type of wheel than can roll in multiple dimensions. Patented in 1876 by a furniture designer named David A. Fisher, casters typically feature a wheel mounted to a swivel bracket that can turn in 360 degrees. Thus, operators can roll heavy objects riding on casters forward and backward, from side to side, diagonally, and even around in circles.

Because of this, casters boast exceptional mobile versatility, while wheels may be more appropriate for applications where the user needs a more predictable, fixed, or limited range of movement. 

For all your mobility and storage needs, contact Casters, Wheels and Industrial Handling with locations in Farmingdale, NY, and Halethorpe, MD. They have served much of the United States' Eastern Seaboard since 1959. They specialize in stainless steel, light-duty, and heavy-duty casters and wheels, as well as food service, office, medical, and backstage equipment. They ship all over the world and offer overnight delivery options. Learn more about the company by visiting their website, or call (631) 650-0500 for a consultation.