About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators. Find Mecanum Wheel Fork Lifts related suppliers, manufacturers, products and specifications on GlobalSpec - a trusted source of Mecanum Wheel Fork Lifts information. Forklifts (fork lifts) are used to engage, lift and transfer palletized loads in material handling, warehousing, manufacturing, and construction applications.
Omnidirectional technology (such as Mecanum wheels) can allow a forklift truck to move forward, diagonally and laterally, or in any direction on a surface. An omnidirectional wheel system is able to rotate the truck 360 degrees in its own footprint or strafe sideways without turning the truck cabin. One example is the Airtrax Sidewinder.
The Mecanum wheel is a design for a wheel that can move a vehicle in any direction. It is sometimes called the Ilon wheel after its inventor, Bengt Erland Ilon, who came up with the idea when he was an engineer with the Swedish company Mecanum AB. It was patented in the United States on November 13, 1972.
It is a conventional wheel with a series of rollers attached to its circumference. These rollers typically each have an axis of rotation at 45° to the plane of the wheel and at 45° to a line through the centre of the roller parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. A typical configuration is the four-wheeled one of the URANUS omni-directional mobile robot or a wheel chair with Mecanum wheels (similar to that pictured). By alternating wheels with left and right-handed rollers, in such a way that each wheel applies force roughly at right angles to the wheelbase diagonal the wheel is on, the vehicle is stable and can be made to move in any direction and turn by varying the speed and direction of rotation of each wheel. Moving all four wheels in the same direction causes forward or backward movement, running the wheels on one side in the opposite direction to those on the other side causes rotation of the vehicle, and running the wheels on one diagonal in the opposite direction to those on the other diagonal causes sideways movement. Combinations of these wheel motions allow for vehicle motion in any direction with any vehicle rotation (including no rotation at all).
The US Navy bought the patent from Ilon and put researchers to work on it in the 1980s in Panama City. The US Navy has used it for transporting items around ships. In 1997, Airtrax Incorporated and several other companies each paid the US Navy $2,500 for rights to the technology, including old drawings of how the motors and controllers worked, to build an omnidirectional forklift truck that could maneuver in tight spaces such as the deck of an aircraft carrier. These vehicles are now in production.
Tracked vehicles and skid steer vehicles utilize similar methods for turning. However, these vehicles typically drag across the ground while turning and may do considerable damage to a soft or fragile surface. The high friction against the ground while turning also requires high-torque engines to overcome the friction. By comparison, the design of the Mecanum wheels allows for in-place rotation with minimal ground friction and low torque.
CasterBot is an online retailer of Mecanum wheel, omni wheel, Caster Wheel, Robot Wheels and Motor coupling.
The company started trading in 2014, we continue to improve our products, develop new wheels, so far we have a complete wheel supply chain system.
Now, more than 5 years later, we’ve served hundreds of thousands of happy customers, many of whom come back time after time. We pride ourselves with a commitment to the highest levels of customer service and technical support. Because of this, our customers include hobbyists and makers, students, academics, as well as institutions including universities and commercial companies.
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Solid Pneumatic Forklift Tires: Before you make your initial forklift purchase, decide whether a pneumatic or cushion tire forklift is best for you. Start by determining how the forklift will be used. Consider your capacity and any multi-use functions. Then, consider space constraints and application; will it be used inside or out, or both? Will it be used on smooth or rough terrain?
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Solid pneumatic tires
Remember that most forklifts require specific tires so do some research before you make your initial forklift purchase to be sure it will work for you.
Solid pneumatic forklift tires are similar to a car or truck tire and offer high performance and versatility. Pneumatic tires provide a strong grip on uneven surfaces and rough terrain and are popular on construction sites, in lumber yards and indoor/outdoor warehouses. There are two types of pneumatic tires: Solid Pneumatics, which are made of solid rubber and are more puncture-proof, and Air Pneumatics, which are air-filled.
Solid cushion forklift tires
Forklift cushion tireCushion tires are made of smooth solid rubber and are fitted around a metal band. They are cheaper to manufacture and easier to maintain, but cushion tires do not get the same level of traction as a pneumatic tire, particularly outdoors. Cushion tires are best for smooth surface applications, primarily indoors or on loading docks. They also help with handling in smaller spaces, as they facilitate a smaller turning radius.
Cushion tires vs pneumatic tire
Difference Between Pneumatic and Cushion tires: Solid Pneumatic Forklift Tires
People refer to forklifts as either pneumatic tire, cushion tire or rough terrain forklifts because forklifts are categorized by tire type. While it is commonly understood that rough terrain forklifts are generally used outdoors in rougher terrain as its name implies, there is still some confusion about the differences between pneumatic and cushion tires and which tires would be most useful on your forklift.
Choosing the right tires significantly impacts forklift handling and safety characteristics. But before you start searching for tires, see if your forklift gives you the option to choose different tires.
The majority of forklifts have frames that will only accept a specific tire type. This is why choosing the right tire really means choosing the right machine for the work you plan to do.
Forklift truck wheels
Solid Pneumatic Forklift Tires:
If most of your lifting will take place indoors or with light outdoor usage on asphalt, then cushion tires will do the job. Cushion tire forklifts have a smaller chassis and sit much lower to the ground than pneumatic forklifts. Cushion generally provide great traction on smooth surfaces and have along life.
However, with little ground clearance, it’s easy to see why cushion tire forklifts can get hung up easily outdoors. To combat this dilemma, many cushion tire forklift users put traction tires on the front of their forklifts.
Traction style tires will give better traction on rough terrains like asphalt or packed gravel. That said, it is still not recommended to drive on dirt or grass. A big advantage to using cushion tire forklifts is their smaller turning radius, making them ideal for manufacturing facilities that have less space than a warehouse. Forklifts with cushion style tires are less expensive and are much easier to come by than pneumatic lifts.
Pneumatic forklift tires
Similar to the tires on a car, pneumatic tires have air in them, and are most useful outdoors on gravel or in yard work, though they can be used inside as well. Pneumatic tires are longer and wider than cushion tire lifts which is why they are primarily used outdoors.
Mecanum Wheels Forklift
There are two types of pneumatic tires – solid and air. Solid pneumatic tires are made of solid rubber. Solid Pneumatic Forklift Tires. These are more expensive than air pneumatic tires because you can’t pop, puncture or gouge them as they are 100% rubber. They’re ideal for lumber yards and scrap yards where there is a lot of sharp metal scrap debris and nails.
Like solid pneumatics, air pneumatics work well outdoors on asphalt, in gravel, and in yards, but they can be punctured so you’ll want to make sure your work area is free of any sharp objects before you begin making your lifts. Air tires also tend to give a bouncy ride and thus, air pneumatic users foam fill their tires, giving themselves a smoother ride than the one experienced on solid pneumatic tires yet a less bouncy ride than pure air-filled.
Forklift load capacity
Both cushion and pneumatic tire forklifts can be obtained with almost any load capacity (from less than 2,000 pounds to more than 200,000 pounds). But pneumatic Tire Forklifts are in high demand. Brand new Pneumatic Tire Forklifts pricing ranges between $20,000 and $25,000.
Mecanum Wheel Control
For this reason, pneumatic tire forklifts sell quickly in the used market. Forklift America’s pre-owned forklifts are dependable, good running, quality machines, so you really do get what you pay for.
Before you decide on cushion or pneumatic tires for your forklift, determine the type of work you plan to do. While cushion tire forklifts are ideal for indoor lifting, pneumatic forklifts are better suited for outdoor lifting. But both offer almost any load capacity
Forklift dock ramp
Be advised: ramps with metal teeth can damage traction tread tires. With the traction tread, the teeth grab more and rip the lugs off. Do not drive a traction tire truck up a ramp with metal teeth. The damage will not be covered by any manufacturer’s warranty.
Forklift industrial Tyres
Solid Pneumatic Forklift Tires: Selection the right forklift tire
When choosing the right tire for your forklift, the most common options are pneumatic forklift tires or cushion forklift tires. These two types of tires have significant differences between them that should be considered when evaluating which works best for your application.
Choosing the right tire impacts the handling and safety of your forklift. The majority of forklifts are specifically designed for a particular tire and tires are designed for specific applications or industries.
Before you make your initial forklift purchase, decide whether a pneumatic or cushion tire forklift is best for you. Start by determining how the forklift will be used. Consider your capacity and any multi-use functions. Then, consider space constraints and application; will it be used inside or out, or both? Will it be used on smooth or uneven terrain?
What is a solid pneumatic forklift tire?
Mecanum Wheels Forklift Company
What is a solid pneumatic forklift tire?Solid pneumatic forklift tires are similar to a car or truck tire and offer high performance and versatility. Pneumatic tires provide a strong grip on uneven surfaces and rough terrain and are popular on construction sites, in lumber yards and indoor/outdoor warehouses. There are two types of pneumatic tires: Solid Pneumatics, which are made of solid rubber and are more puncture-proof, and Air Pneumatics, which are air-filled.
Should I Use Smooth or Traction Tires?In general, smooth tires give better traction on dry surfaces and can give you more rubber for the dollar spent. If your working environment has exposure to moisture, a traction tire is usually a better option.
If you use a cushion tire forklift outside, traction tires can give better grip and help reduce the chance of the tire “Chunking.”
In general, the answer is no. Axles and tires are specific to a forklift frame and lifting capacity. Forklift manufacturers build forklifts build them to operate safely with specific wheels and tires.
What about foam filling?“Foam Filling” is an alternative to solid tires and is generally used to help prevent flat tires when using air tires in an environment where your equipment is exposed to nails or other sharp objects. Foam filling can also be used where there is no solid tire available.
Foam filling usually takes 2 to 3 days to fill and cure. Foam-fill and solid tires can usually be used with your existing wheels. Always follow manufactures specs and the professional recommendation from your local dealer.
You can use solid tires on the front of the lift and air on the back, or vice versa. You must run the same type of tire on the opposite sides, drive and steer axles.
When to Replace Forklift Tires?As a general rule, when there is less than one inch from the lettering on the tires to the top of the tires, it is time to change the tires.
Did you know: after a tire has worn 40%, the forklift and the driver will absorb over 84% of the shock if it’s being run over a rough surface?The transmission has to work much harder to turn the tires the same amount of rotation, which can result in a breakdown. Changing tires is an inexpensive way to keep your forklift and operator in good condition!
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Types of forklift tires
Overall, there are three basic types of forklift tires: cushion, pneumatic air, and solid pneumatic. Since each type of forklift tire is designed for specific usages and applications, there is a direct correlation between tire type and the overall design and dimensions of a forklift.
Mecanum Wheels Forklift
The fork truck mecanum utilizes uniquely designed wheels for omnidirectional movement. Around the circumference of each wheel are spindles canted at an angle, with each spindle containing a pair of rollers. Each wheel is independently controlled; the speed and direction with which each wheel moves determines the trajectory of the vehicle.