Pre-screen caster load, floor impact, speed risk, and RFQ readiness before choosing an AGV caster wheel. The report below explains assumptions, evidence, and when supplier validation is mandatory.
The calculator is a pre-screen, not a certification. It helps decide whether a standard caster quote is plausible, whether the case is borderline, and which evidence needs to be sent to a caster supplier.
| Decision conclusion | Evidence or method | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Select from dynamic peak load first, then check static load as a sanity check. | The tool applies support count, floor condition, speed, swivel type, and suspension before producing the RFQ peak load. | Send peak kg per caster and the screening factor with the supplier RFQ. |
| Speeds above 1.1 m/s need explicit supplier confirmation, not only catalogue capacity. | ISO 22884:2004 frames industrial castor and wheel requirements over 1.1 m/s and up to 4.4 m/s, while supplier guides still require application factors. | Ask for load-speed curves or written confirmation at the actual route speed. |
| The worst floor feature usually decides diameter, tread, and whether suspension is needed. | Mixed joints, ramps, and rough floors increase the dynamic factor and move borderline cases toward larger PU wheels or spring-loaded support. | Pilot over the highest joint, steepest ramp, or worst threshold before release. |
| Borderline and not-fit results should become engineering constraints, not purchase approvals. | The result panel flags boundary notes and the evidence table limits public guidance to screening-level decisions. | Escalate to custom caster review with floor photos, duty cycle, and mounting envelope. |
| Source | Date or scope | How it is used | Limit on interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 22884:2004 | Published standard page, reviewed June 30, 2026 | Frames castor and wheel requirements for industrial applications over 1.1 m/s and up to 4.4 m/s. | ISO notes pneumatic wheels and drive wheels are outside this standard, so final AGV drive-module sizing still needs supplier validation. |
| Blickle load-capacity guide | Supplier engineering guide, accessed June 30, 2026 | Explains that catalogue capacity is tested under DIN EN 12527-12533 and gives a required load-capacity formula using mass, support count, and safety factor. | Use as a screening method only; the selected factor changes with speed, floor, temperature, obstacles, and duty cycle. |
| Supplier RFQ validation | Project-specific confirmation before purchase | Confirms tread compound, bearing package, swivel geometry, mounting pattern, and expected continuous-duty cycle against the actual AGV chassis. | Required before purchase when the result is borderline, above 1.1 m/s, or used on rough floors. |
| Use condition | Swivel caster | Rigid caster | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth epoxy, low payload | Works when steering scrub is low and speed is moderate. | Best for straight tracking but needs enough drive control authority. | Ask for PU or nylon samples and floor marking test data. |
| Mixed concrete joints | Needs sealed swivel bearings and controlled trail to avoid shimmy. | Lower swivel wear, but chassis layout must tolerate fixed direction. | Pilot over the worst joint angle, not only a clean aisle. |
| Rough floor or ramps | High impact risk without suspension or larger diameter. | Can unload drive wheels if the chassis has poor compliance. | Validate spring preload, ground contact, and drive traction together. |
| Risk | Field signal | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Under-rated caster | Dynamic load exceeds supplier rating after safety factor. | Increase diameter, add casters, or use a custom heavy-duty fork. |
| Floor damage | Hard tread on cracked concrete or high point load. | Move toward high-resilience PU and test marking on the real floor. |
| Shimmy and sensor noise | Swivel caster oscillates at speed or over angled joints. | Tune caster trail, choose damped swivel, or switch layout. |
| Drive-wheel unloading | Support casters carry too much mass during ramps or transitions. | Rebalance chassis, add suspension, and verify traction margin. |
Attach the calculated peak load, floor photos, route speed, joint height, mounting envelope, and target duty cycle so the caster recommendation is tied to the real AGV profile.
Canonical route: /products/caster-wheels. Content and screening logic last reviewed on June 30, 2026. Public evidence is limited to standard scope descriptions and supplier engineering guidance; final approval requires manufacturer data for the selected part number.