How to Choose the Right MDR Conveyor Roller?

1. Determine the application

The first step is to determine the motorized conveyor’s use.  This will help you narrow your options and find a roller best suited for your needs.

For example, if you need a powered roller conveyor for transporting heavy loads, you will need a different roller than a conveyor for light loads.

Heavy loads require a heavy-duty roller consisting of larger shafts, reinforced walls, and higher torque electric motors.

The speed at which you need the product to move through the system (operational rate) is one of the most important factors when designing a motorized roller conveyor system.

The “operational rate” is usually defined as units per hour or feet per minute.

You might need to change either the weight or the requested FPM to find a roller that will work well.  Both things are important because they affect how fast and how hard the roller can spin.

We all know that you can’t have both torque and a high-top speed, so we must find a balance that meets our needs and objectives.

2. Consider the environment

Next, you need to consider the environment in which the conveyor will be used.  This includes dry or wet, room temperature, whether hot or cold.

Wet environments must consider the actual material used for the roller itself.  One would have to go to a stainless-steel roller with sealed ball bearings for this environment.

For example, if the conveyor will be used in a damp or dusty environment, it is essential to choose a roller that can withstand those conditions.

3. Product considerations

It would be best if you also considered what product would be transported on the conveyor.  This includes both the size and weight of the product as well as any special requirements it might have.

For example, if you need to transport fragile items, you will need to choose a roller designed for that purpose with a rubber or polyurethane coating.

For heavier items, you may have to change the interlocking setup from O-Rings to Ploy-v belts or even no interlocking and use wide flat belts or narrow straps to lock idler rollers to the driving-powered roller.

Product dimensions also need to be considered.  For more oversized width items, a larger frame width would be required; then, based on the weight, a larger diameter roller may also be required.

4. Budget considerations

Finally, consider your budget when choosing an MDR conveyor roller.  There are many different rollers available, so it is crucial to find one that fits your budget and meets your requirements.

In addition, you also need to consider any other costs associated with installing and maintaining the conveyor, such as shipping and installation fees.

Don’t forget about routine maintenance and replacement roller costs.  It would help if you also considered operational expenses such as energy bills.

All these costs will affect the ROI and therefore affect your bottom line.