Gears, and in particular, gearboxes, are common in linear motion applications, providing speed reduction and torque multiplication for systems driven by belt and pulley or chain and sprocket assemblies. The diversity of gear types and materials available for industrial applications makes it important (albeit somewhat challenging) for designers and users of linear motion systems to […]
Belt + chain drives for linear
What are V-belt pitch length and datum length?
The length of a V-belt can be specified in several ways, including outside length, effective length, and pitch (or datum) length. Outside length is measured around the belt’s outer diameter with no tension, but is only an approximation and is not useful for sizing or selection. Effective length is measured at the effective outside diameter […]
Synchronous belt failures: Six ways they can occur
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 […]
What is ratcheting in synchronous belt drives?
Synchronous belts (also referred to as toothed, cogged, timing, or high torque belts) use profiled teeth that mesh with a pulley or sprocket to deliver power transmission – most notably for applications that require high torque. Where V-belts rely on friction between the sidewalls of the belt and the sides of the pulley to transmit […]
Synchronous belt and V belt: How to pick between them?
Power transmission in linear motion designs is often through rotary-to-linear devices, chain, or belt drives. The earliest belt iteration — and one that’s still economical today — is the friction-based V-belt design. These pair a belt with a pulley (often on an electric motor’s geared output shaft) to provide reliable operation in myriad end-user and […]
Intelligrated automated palletizing for citrus packer a Top Supply Chain Project for 2017
Intelligrated — a North American-based automated material-handling provider — was recently listed on Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 100 great supply chain projects for its Bee Sweet Citrus design work. Bee Sweet Citrus is an independent packer and shipper of California citrus to serve a market that stretches from Europe to Australia. Faced with rising […]
What is Torque?
In this article, we answer the common question “what is torque?” Although torque refers to rotational motion, it is a fundamental concept in linear motion applications. Rotary motors produce torque, and when this torque is transmitted to a drive system – such as a screw, belt and pulley, rack and pinion, or chain and sprocket […]
Next-generation synchronous power-transmission belt — Gates Poly Chain ADV
Gates Corp. now sells new Poly Chain ADV, its next-generation synchronous power-transmission belt, the strongest, most durable product of its kind. Poly Chain ADV is manufactured using cutting-edge carbon fiber technology and proprietary tooth jacket material. Combined with Gates’ engineering expertise and advanced manufacturing techniques, these improvements enable narrower and more durable synchronous power transmission […]
Belting Association (NIBA) and Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) — Joint Industry Summit September 27 to 30
Planning is well under way for the NIBA/PTDA Joint Industry Summit, September 27-30, 2017, at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, for top executives and those who aspire to leadership among distributors and manufacturers in the belting and power transmission/motion control industries. The one-time, combined meeting presents an opportunity for cross-channel/cross-industry networking and collaboration […]
