Casters are often categorized according to the way in which they are mounted. Stem casters, for instance, are mounted via a threaded rod known as a stem, whereas plate casters are mounted via a rectangular- or shape-shaped plate. There are also metric stem casters. Like all stem casters, metric stem casters are mounted via a stem. They use different measurements, however, than other stem casters.
Overview of Metric Stem Casters
Metric stem casters are wheeled casters with a mounting stem in a metric size. There’s no universal size for these mounting stems. Some stem casters have a long mounting stem. Others have a short mounting stem. The stem size represents the size of a caster’s mounting stem.
Metric stem casters receive their namesake from their use of metric measurements. The size of their mounting stem is measured in metric units, such as millimeters. Other types of stem casters use imperial measurements. Rather than millimeters, the size of their mounting stem may be measured in inches.
How to Choose Metric Stem Casters
You should consider the stem size when choosing metric stem casters. All metric stem casers use metric units for their stem, but some of them have longer or bigger stems than others.
For a proper fit, you’ll need to choose metric stem casters in the right stem size. Mounting stems are threaded. To install a metric stem casters, you’ll need to twist the threaded stems into a set of threaded holes on the object with which you intend to use them. Choosing metric stem sizes in the wrong stem size may prevent you from installing them.
Different types of metric stem casters are made of different materials. Each material, of course, offers its own benefits. Hard rubber is a durable and long-lasting material that works well for nearly all caster applications. Polyurethane on aluminum, conversely, offers a smoother roll.
You can find metric stem casters in some of the following materials:
- Hard rubber
- Phenolic
- Polyolefin
- Polyurethane
- Polyurethane on aluminum
- Soft rubber
- Solid polyurethane
- Thermo-pro rubber
Don’t forget to check the weight capacity when choosing metric stem casters. Whether metric stem, imperial stem or plate, casters can only support so much weight. By checking the weight capacity, you’ll know exactly how much weight a given caster can handle.
Keep in mind that most casters have a per-caster weight capacity. If a metric stem caster has a 300-pound weight capacity, you can use four of them to support up to 1,200 pounds.
