Disc handwheels VH531 black

A crank handle is practical when you are cranking and in the way the rest of the time. Disc Handwheels VH531 solve that conflict: the handle both turns and folds, so when the setting is done you fold it down into the plane of the wheel and what remains is a smooth disc with nothing sticking out. The wheel is molded in glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic with a matte surface, in other respects the same design as the version of the series with a fixed handle.

The folding handle is more than a convenience. Along walkways, at machines where the operator moves close by, or on equipment that is moved between workstations, a folded down handle lowers the risk of clothing, hoses and lifting slings catching. It also lowers the risk of unintended operation; a folded handle offers no grip to a passing arm. And when the handle is needed again it is folded up with one movement and then rotates freely around its axis, so that long spindle travels can be cranked quickly without regripping. The same quality helps when the machine is cleaned; a smooth disc is far easier to wipe down than a wheel with a handle sticking out.

The size program is the same as for the fixed version: six diameters of 80, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mm with heights from 33 to 59 mm. Choose the diameter by the torque you need; a large wheel gives more force with the same hand strength, a small one takes less room on the panel. The hub has a pilot bore that is machined to the finished shaft dimension with a keyway or pin locking as needed, and a cover cap in light gray thermoplastic hides the shaft end when mounting is done. Detail dimensions for each size are in the manufacturer's data sheet.

The material takes everyday industrial life. The glass fiber reinforcement makes the wheel stiff and dimensionally stable, so it does not flex under hard tightening and holds its dimensions over time; the metal parts, including the fasteners of the handle, are in zinc plated steel. The matte black surface gives a secure grip even with oily gloves and hides the scratches that daily handling inevitably brings.

VH531 is often chosen for format settings in packaging and process machines, for fixtures and clamping devices in tight cells and for mobile equipment where anything sticking out sooner or later takes a knock. Designers who have standardized on disc handwheels in this family can mix fixed and folding handles on the same machine, with the same look and the same hub solution; the operator only notices the difference where it does good.

How do you know whether the folding function is worth it compared with the fixed handle? Ask yourself where the wheel ends up. If it sits at chest height facing a walkway where people pass with material the answer is obvious; if it sits protected inside a machine frame that is adjusted once a quarter the fixed handle does the same job. The price of the folding function is one more moving part, and moving parts should be justified by the use. If it cannot be settled at the drawing stage it is rarely wrong to choose the folding version; the function costs nothing in handling when it is not used.

The wheels are supplied two or five per pack depending on size. For anyone building in series that means even purchasing volumes, and for maintenance it means a damaged wheel can be replaced from your own store instead of the equipment standing idle waiting for a delivery.

Do you want to compare with the version with a fixed handle before you decide? We will help you choose the right design and size.