Synchronous belts can transmit high torque without the potential for slip, due to positive engagement between the teeth of the belt and the grooves of the pulley. But the performance of synchronous belt drive systems can be affected by installation errors, unexpected application conditions, or the use of components that aren’t suitable for the operating […]
Pulley balancing for belt drive systems: Is it always necessary?
As a pulley rotates, centrifugal forces act on the pulley, and if its mass is not evenly distributed around the axis of rotation – that is, if it is unbalanced – these centrifugal forces will also be unbalanced and cause the pulley to vibrate. (Uneven mass distribution can be due to imperfections in machining or […]
High-speed linear actuators: What qualifies them as high speed?
Like many terms used in the linear motion industry, such as “heavy duty,” “miniature,” and “corrosion-resistant,” to name a few, there is no industry standard that specifies what constitutes a “high-speed” linear actuator. Nevertheless, there are some general guidelines that manufacturers follow when classifying and marketing their actuators as high speed. These guidelines are typically […]
Maintenance-free chains for applications in conveying systems
iwis now sells Megalife maintenance-free roller and conveyor chains. The special characteristics of the Megalife chains allow longer replacement intervals and reduce maintenance costs and downtimes of conveying systems. The chains are used wherever relubrication is not possible or disadvantageous, for example in dry ambient conditions and on installations with restricted maintenance access. This includes conveying […]
Linear actuators: belt driven vs. rack and pinion driven
Belts and rack and pinions have several common benefits for linear motion applications. They’re both well-established drive mechanisms in linear actuators, providing high-speed travel over extremely long lengths. And both are frequently used in large gantry systems for material handling, machining, welding and assembly, especially in the automotive, machine tool, and packaging industries. Timing belts for linear […]
Continental introduces lighter-weight Conti Texsteel conveyor belting at NIBA Convention
Continental has introduced at the 2016 NIBA Convention, Conti Texsteel, an aramid textile reinforced line of conveyor belting for applications where high strength, low elongation and lighter weight are essential. Conti Texsteel, exclusive from Continental Select, is a very specific line of lightweight conveyor belting designed to provide belt strengths of a steel cord belt […]
Variable width and length linear axes
Now configure toothed-belt linear axes in customizable sizes To simplify product selection of maintenance-free, self-lubricating linear guides, motion plastics specialist igus has developed a modular construction kit for belt-driven DryLin ZLW linear axes. With the new “ZLW toolkit,” customers can customize their own solutions, including rail widths, system length, etc., even for small installation spaces. […]
Tolomatic belt-drive actuator handles harsh environments
Tolomatic’s family of MXB electric belt-drive actuators includes a new solid bearing load-carrying design ideal for harsh environments. The trapezoidal solid bearing provides a rigid, long-lasting bearing system capable of operating in environments that roller bearings would not be able to withstand. With loads up to 520 lb (235 kg), speeds up to 100 in./sec […]
Bimba’s new multi-axis HSXZ and HSXY electric belt-driven actuators
Bimba’s new multi-axis HSXZ and HSXY electric belt-driven actuators offer 2-axis linear motion control using a unique single belt transport system. The single belt system serpentines around both the X and Z (or Y) axis in such a fashion that it eliminates the need for a motor in the Z-axis (or Y) while using two […]
Engineered synchronous sprockets improve drives using curvilinear belts
Belt drives are a mainstay in power-transmission design. In these setups, a reinforced belt wraps around and engages a motor-driven sprocket (or pulley) to transmit translational or rotational motion. Especially in setups where belts and sprockets drive linear axes, repeatability and positioning accuracy are better than ever, thanks to engineered guides and innovations in integration. What’s […]
