The Robot Report

  • Research
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • Grippers / End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors / Sensing Systems
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • A.I. / Cognition
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Defense / Security
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
  • Investments
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast

Belt and Pulley Solutions for Mechanical Power Transmission

By Steve Meyer | January 31, 2016

Sometimes the old tricks work the best. The Belt and Pulley solution for mechanical power transmission has been around for a couple of centuries, and despite all the ‘high tech’ motion control, it’s still alive and well.  This seems strange at first glance, but it’s based on simple mechanical truth; belt and pulley are still the cheapest means of transmitting power.

The belt and pulley has been around since the second century BC but became refined and very widely adopted during the first industrial revolution. A key element of powering machinery in the first industrial revolution was to locate manufacturing facilities near waterways and create power using water wheels. The low-speed water wheel was generally a large diameter and used to create torque.  By increasing the speed and powering a shaft that runs in along a large building, multiple pieces of machinery could be power without any steam or electricity.  Each piece of equipment required it’s own power takeoff and pulleys were designed to create speed ratios.

Over time the V belt and pulley design became very widespread and persists today in a wide variety of machinery.  The belt technology has become very sophisticated to include a variety of high strength fibers in the belting to increase the load capacity of the belt.  From simple fan belts in cars to primary drive train in motorcycles at hundreds of horsepower of power transmission, belts are able to provide incredible power density.  Large mining industry conveyors are really just big, often miles long belts that carry tons of rock.

There are toothed belts which provide considerably improved accuracy over ‘V’ belts.  Fine pitched small belts are able to power wafer handling robots in the semiconductor industry.  And toothed timing belts can be scaled up to high loads as well.  Notably, the recent Harley Davidson switch to belt driven motorcycles was based on a toothed belt.

A belt and pulley solution can be very efficient, low inertia, lightweight, compact and last for a long time when properly designed.  They are very scalable. Large-scale grinding machines in the feed industry at several hundred horsepowers use parallel belts with special pulleys.

As with any technology, there are trade-offs.  They have speed limitations at higher speeds.  Bend radius and tension are important considerations to ensure proper operation and life expectancy.  Alignment of the pulleys is important for long-term operation and safety to ensure that the belts don’t jump off their pulleys.  The biggest design consideration is the support bearing and adjustment for tensioning the belts.  Belts put a lot of load on one side of the bearing which can cause accelerated wear and difficulty executing repairs.

But it is truly amazing to consider the success of the humble belt and pulley and the many great industry solutions that have been created around this basic technology.

About The Author

Steve Meyer

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

SUNY Adirondack to launch new program in mechatronics
Eplan Data Portal migrates to Azure
Transcript: How mechatronics is taking additive manufacturing to the next level
Is there a need for closed loop feedback greater than 20,000 CPR?

Robotics Year in Review

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Teradyne’s acquisition strategy & the future of cobot

The Robot Report Podcast · Teradyne's acquisition strategy & the future of cobots

Sponsored Content

  • Doosan Robotics: Driving Innovation and Growth in Cobots
  • FORT Robotics Podcast: FORT Robotics on how to keep humans safe and in control of robots
  • Pallet Detection Systems Help Automated Forklifts Modernize Warehouse Operations
  • IES Servo Control Gripper
  • How to cut the cost of manufacturing

Tweets by RoboticTips

The Robot Report
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search The Robot Report

  • Research
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • Grippers / End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors / Sensing Systems
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • A.I. / Cognition
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Defense / Security
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
  • Investments
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast