Top 12 Hand Wheels

The humble handwheel is a classic piece of equipment used historically across various industries and applications. They are mounted onto a shaft or a spindle and transmit rotational movement, helping the user accomplish many different tasks. These tasks include adjusting valves, controlling equipment components, and operating machinery like milling lathes. A quality handwheel can make the machine it is part of more comfortable to use. This guide should offer some tips for selecting a suitable handwheel for one's needs.

Structure of the wheel

One can obtain many different types of wheels on the market. The classic handwheel is one with spokes arranged radially around the axis, supporting the wheel's rim. There are two variants of the spoked handwheel: the flat handwheel, where the hub and the rim are situated on the same plane, and the dished handwheel, where they are on offset planes. There are also solid handwheels, which resemble disks. They are most often seen in smaller, more complicated pieces of equipment, such as sewing machines and microscopes.

A matter of materials

As handwheels are used in many different applications, they can be made of various materials: from highly durable and corrosion-resistant stainless steel to thermoplastic polymers. If a handwheel is being purchased to replace a former component, one made of a similar material as its predecessor will be most appropriate. Otherwise, it is recommended to select a wheel most suited to the conditions in which it operates. A valve on a large outdoor water pipe, for example, could use a handwheel made of stainless steel to resist the elements and withstand heavy water pressures. It would also benefit from a synthetic rubber grip in the case of slipperiness from leakage.

Bores and handles

A handle comes in use when a handwheel is too large to operate smoothly by gripping the edge, though smaller wheels can also have handles. They may be made of smooth, easy-to-clean materials such as stainless steel or have a grip for more comfortable handling. They may go on the wheel's rim or in the center, with the former having versions that fold away to lie with the edge of the wheel. Handles on the edges of large wheels necessitate more arm movement to turn the wheel, causing fatigue over an extended period. Still, they may be more appropriate for fine-tuned adjustments.

Categories Simillar to Hand Wheels includes Star Knobs

Star Knobs