Design and Analysis of Free Rotation Forklift Using Mecanum Wheel

Multi-directional machines offer benefits over traditional designs when it comes to maneuverability in crowded environments. Mecanum wheel systems operate by applying rotational force to each wheel individually, enabling them to move freely in a different direction. This allows for straightforward movement, although not for rapid maneuvers. The key advantage of employing mecanum wheel systems is the separation of translational and rotational movements, which facilitates uncomplicated stirring, but not swift stirring. Therefore, the present work is undertaken to study the forklifts using mecanum wheel. An attempt is made to design and perform structural analysis of the forklift using ANSYS. The analysis is made for lifting 101 kg of weight on its base frame and 22.5 kg for wheel rim. Additionally, the design calculations for motor shaft and power consumption are determined. After analyzing parameters such as stresses, total deformation, and factor of safety, it is determined that both the base frame and wheel rim have a factor of safety greater than 1. This indicates that the structure can withstand higher loads while experiencing minimal deformation and maximum equivalent stress.