Originally Posted by
Ronald Blue
For clarification you want swivel casters all the way around? I see the convenience of it but also the drawback to it. I consider a heavy machine with all 4 casters swiveling being a hand full to control if not downright dangerous. But that's just me.
I am of a like mind through experience. In a cramped area where you may only nudge the machine a small amount, all swivel casters can be helpful. In a larger area where you are going to move the machine several feet, one set of fixed casters allows you to steer heavy machines more safely. All swivel corners mean you either have to muscle the machine in the direction you want it (unlikely with a 500 lb machine) or place yourself on the side opposite the direction you want it to go and push (not always possible even in larger shops).
The raising and lowering caster idea seems cool but, I think you could simplify your design by lowering the feet instead. This could be a simple, non-swiveling mechanism that just takes the weight off the casters. I see this as easier than a "plunge-able" caster post that still has to swivel freely under load. Just food for thought.
If you still want to go all-swivel, the Bear Crawl All-swivel (rated to 900 lbs.) that uses this method is on sale right now. Four leveling feet that raise the wheels off the floor via foot pedals.
Last edited by glenn bradley; 01-25-2021 at 7:41 AM.
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