The floor condition is an essential and integral part of any successful air caster (air bearing) system. Airfloat, a leading designer, manufacturer, and tester of air bearings, highlights the pivotal role of air caster floor requirements in achieving optimal performance levels of air bearing systems. This article delves into the critical aspects of floor conditions that directly impact the functionality of air film transport systems, offering insights into required airflow, handling transitions, and ensuring floor flatness and levelness.. Compliance to these floor requirements will ensure that your air bearing system operates at its optimum performance levels for which it was designed.
Air Caster Floor Conditions
Key to Airflow: Surface Condition Matters
The amount of airflow required to float a specific platform is determined mainly by the floor conditions. If the operating surface is ideal, the required airflow will be very low. As the surface texture becomes rougher, more airflow will be required. Friction-free movement requires adequate airflow. To determine the required airflow for a specific size of platform, first determine which floor condition listed below most closely describes the actual floor conditions. Consult your owner’s manual for more information on your specific air flow needs.
Smooth Floor – smooth steel, aluminum or plastic sheet, machine troweled concrete with a dense polished appearance, asphalt, rubber or vinyl tile with tight joints, untextured linoleum.
Normal Floor – steel with slightly textured mill scale, good concrete with a slight texture.
Textured Floor – Steel plates with some flaky scale, slightly textured concrete or smooth concrete with minor pits and hairline cracks.
Rough Floor – Broom-finished concrete or highway-type asphalt surfaces. Note: This surface is not suitable for air bearing use.
What is Floor Flatness?
Floor flatness refers to the length and amplitude of waviness, humps, bulges, ridges, gullies, troughs or depressions. Floor undulations considered here must be non-abrupt with well rounded edges. Abrupt floor irregularities must be repaired or avoided. Ways to navigate cracks, expansion joints, holes, seams, etc. are discussed further below in this document. Airfloat air bearing equipment is engineered to operate on floors that meet the following flatness specification:
The Chart below lists allowable depression deviations under various lengths of straight edges laid anywhere on the floor surface where the air bearing transportation system is intended to operate. The Diagram below illustrates the relative floor flatness of any given location in the air bearing equipment operating area.
Ensuring Levelness for Controlled Maneuverability
While the levelness of the floor does not impact the air film’s production, it influences the control and maneuverability of the transport system. Floor levelness is only considered within the context of the overall control and maneuverability of the air-bearing transport system. For manually operated equipment, it is recommended that the floor not exceed a slope of 1/8 inch rise in any 10 feet. For power driven or assisted equipment, it is required that the floor not exceed a slope of ¼ inch rise in any 10 feet. See the diagram below in which A = rise and B = run. Please note that unleveled floors will allow an air bearing transport system to drift along the floor grade if a guide wheel or power drive is not provided. This aspect of floor condition ensures that operational precision is maintained throughout the material handling process.
Conclusion: A Foundation for Success
The interaction between air film transport systems and floor conditions is a critical element of operational efficiency. With the guidelines provided by Airfloat, industries can significantly enhance the performance and reliability of their air-bearing systems. Effective seamless material transportation requires strategic floor management, proper handling of cracks and expansion joints, as well as optimization of surface texture and porosity. As industries aim to increase efficiency and productivity, prioritizing these foundational elements will lead to better outcomes and success.
