Does anyone make ball "wheels" for furniture?

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  • Fusion
    No R3VLimiter
    • Nov 2009
    • 3658

    #1

    Does anyone make ball "wheels" for furniture?

    I'm working on a shelf project and would like some kind of low-profile wheels.
    All the wheels I can find raise the object quite a bit, so I started wondering if anyone makes a "ball wheel", like a trackball mouse upside down with maybe a polyurethane ball.
    I guess dirt and stuff from the ground might be an issue, maybe not.

    Otherwise I'd have to make a housing on each corner for the regular type wheels to tuck into the shelf. But I don't like that idea much.

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  • Farbin Kaiber
    Lil' Puppet
    • Jul 2007
    • 29502

    #2
    Our ball casters are great third contact points for small differential-drive robots. These units have larger ball diameter-to-weight ratios than industrial units, giving your robot the ability to drive over larger obstacles without adding too much weight. Several sizes and ball options are available.


    Specifically, http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/956

    But larger, what weight are you expecting to need them to support?

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    • Fusion
      No R3VLimiter
      • Nov 2009
      • 3658

      #3
      Ahh, ball casters. I expect it to be around 200lb.

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      • Farbin Kaiber
        Lil' Puppet
        • Jul 2007
        • 29502

        #4
        I found some pretty solid steel ones with a steel housing, kinda like an automotive type of bearing that could be recess mounted and support the weight levels you are thinking of to get that lo-pro look you want.

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        • Fusion
          No R3VLimiter
          • Nov 2009
          • 3658

          #5
          Steel would be great. Gotta look around and find something good.
          I also found cylindrical wheels, but those roll one direction, which wouldn't be good for moving a heavy shelf/locker thing around.

          Thanks for the tip.

          Comment

          • 10Toes
            Me Father Was A Tree
            • Jan 2008
            • 61222

            #6
            Are you looking for heavy-duty ball transfers for sale? We've got you covered! Explore a wide range of roller ball transfer bearing casters, and heavy-duty ball transfers at Apollo Caster.

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            • Fusion
              No R3VLimiter
              • Nov 2009
              • 3658

              #7
              Yesss!

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              • AndrewBird
                The Mad Scientist
                • Oct 2003
                • 11892

                #8
                Those are often used for conveyor belt type things (minus the belt). Basically a bunch of them in a grid mounted to a table. Boxes and stuff slide over the top. McMaster sells them.

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                • jaywood
                  R3V Elite
                  • Jul 2010
                  • 4528

                  #9
                  This site has some cool casters...check em out.

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