Why Consider Metal Belts for Your Application?
Engineers who specify metal belts have possibilities to them that they don’t have when working with other products or components. Some essential features and benefits are talked about below.
HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO:
This is an advantage in practically every application where high strength, light weight, or both are important.
DURABILITY:
Metal belts can withstand sustained contact with extremes of temperature, hostile conditions, and vacuum. A number of alloys may be used, each with its own resistance to chemical substances, humidity, and corrosion. Engineers generally select a belt material based on physical properties, availability, and cost.
NO LUBRICATION:
Unlike the links of a chain, a metallic belt is a single element and, therefore, does not generate any component friction that requires lubrication. This reduces program maintenance, increases reliability, and maintains the system clean.
NONSTRETCHABLE:
Spring steels with a higher modulus of elasticity make metal belts virtually nonstretchable when compared with other belt types and chain. This makes them ideal in powerful applications for precision positioning.
SMOOTH OPERATION:
Metal belts are free from the pulsation of chordal actions often seen in other belt types and chain. This results in precise translation of the control system motion profile.
ACCURATE AND REPEATABLE:
Metal timing belts can be fabricated with a pitch accuracy of ±0.0005 inches station to station. This high amount of precision is extremely useful in developing indexing, positioning, or processing equipment.
Great THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY:
Metal belts may transmit energy in the kind of heat, cold, and electricity.
NO STATIC BUILD UP:
Metallic belts discharge static electrical power, an essential capability in the manufacture of electronic components such as integrated circuits and surface area mount devices.
CLEAN:
Unlike HTD or toned neoprene belts, metal belts do not generate particulate and so are well suited for food and pharmaceutical digesting.
CLEAN ROOM COMPATIBLE:
Metal belts do not require lubricants and will not generate dust that would introduce foreign substances into clean room environments. Additionally, they may be sterilized in an autoclave.
PRECISE CONSTRUCTION:
Edges are easy and sizes are tightly toleranced.
Steel conveyor belt pulleys are critical to the look of any automated conveyor belt system. They act as the driving force behind the movement of the belt, making torque and acceleration. In very general conditions it can be said that pulleys are categorized as friction drive 
or timing pulleys (type I and II). Precision is the name of the game with regards to pulleys. A metallic belt is as good and exact as the pulleys. The majority of pulleys recommended by Ever-power are made of anodized aluminum (hard coating) with the proper friction coefficient to drive the metal belt. Stainless steel can also be used nonetheless it is expensive and heavy, although it might end up being indicated in certain applications where extra hardness is necessary. If your application takes a lighter pulley, the professionals at Ever-power can help you choose the best material.
Selecting the right pulley size and construction can have a substantial influence on the lifespan and effectiveness of a conveyor belt. Ever-power engineers possess the knowledge and experience to help you choose the right pulley type, diameter, and composition to minimize maintenance downtime and maximize product volume.
Metallic Conveyor Belt Pulley Types
Ever-power designs custom metal conveyor belt pulleys and configurations to bring optimum efficiency to your system. While metallic conveyor belts are usually made of stainless, pulleys can be created from a variety of materials, including light weight aluminum or a number of plastic composites. Depending on the unique requirements of your system, the pulleys can also be fitted with custom timing attachments, relief channels, and more.
Independently Steerable Pulley
Ever-power has developed a forward thinking concept in flat belt tracking called the ISP (independently steerable pulley), which can be used in the following system designs:
· Two pulley conveyor systems where the ISP is the idler or driven pulley
· Systems with multiple idler pulleys on a common shaft
· Systems with serpentine or various other complex belt paths
Steering flat belts with an ISP is founded on the concept of changing tension human relationships across the width of the belt by adjusting the position of the pulley in accordance with the belt.
Instead of moving the pulley shaft still left/right or up/straight down by pillow prevent adjustment, the ISP fits a adjustable steering collar and sealed bearing assembly to your body of the pulley.
The steering collar is designed with the skewed or an offset bore. When rotated, the collar changes the angle of the pulley body, leading to controlled, bi-directional motion of the belt over the pulley face.
The ISP is exclusively available from Ever-power. It offers a simple method of steering flat metallic belts. Users may combine ISP steering with the traditional belt tracking designs of crowning, flanging, and timing components to make a synergistic belt tracking system which effectively and specifically steers the belt to specified tracking parameters.
Unique Characteristics and Advantages of the ISP
· Toned belts are tracked quickly by rotating the steering collar.
· ISP styles minimize downtime when changing belts on production machinery.
· ISP system is simple to use and requires no special tools or schooling.
· ISP simplifies the look and assembly of conveyor systems using toned belts.
· Existing idler pulleys may normally end up being retrofitted to an ISP without major system modifications.
· No maintenance is necessary once the belt monitoring parameters have already been established.
· It prolongs belt life by minimizing side loading when working with flanges and timing pulleys.
ISP Pulley (picture and cross-section view)
Installation and Use
The ISP is mounted to the machine frame using commercially available pillow blocks. A clamp is utilized to prevent the shaft from turning.
The Rotated Shaft Method of ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Is used with systems having an individual pulley on the shaft.
· Is ALWAYS used when the pulley body is definitely a capped tube design.
· Is NEVER used when multiple pulleys are on a common shaft.
· Utilized selectively when the ISP can be a steering roll in a multiple pulley system.
Secure the ISP to the shaft using the split training collar and locking screw built into the ISP. Rotate the shaft and collar as a unit. When the required tracking characteristics are obtained, prevent the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will now rotate about the bearing built into the ISP assembly. This method allows the belt to end up being tracked while working under tension.
Protected the ISP to the shaft using the split training collar and locking screw included in the ISP. Rotate the shaft and collar as a device. When the desired tracking characteristics are obtained, prevent the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will now rotate about the bearing included in the ISP assembly. This technique enables the belt to become tracked while running under tension.
The Rotated Collar Method of ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Used to individually modify each belt/pulley combination when there are multiple pulleys on a common shaft.
· Used when systems have a cantilevered shafting typical of serpentine and additional complex belt path systems. It is recommended that these changes be made only once the belt is at rest.
Fix the shaft via the shaft clamp, loosen the locking screw of the steering collar, and rotate the steering collar about the shaft. When the desired belt tracking features are obtained, secure the locking screw.
Which Design Is Correct for You?
There are numerous applications because of this new product, so Ever-power designs and manufactures independently steerable pulleys to meet your requirements. Contact Ever-power to discuss your questions or for design assistance.
Ever-power is the worldwide leader in the look and manufacturing of application-specific pulleys, metallic belts, and drive tapes. Our products provide exclusive benefits for machinery found in precision positioning, timing, conveying, and automated production applications.
System Configuration
Number 1 1 – The drive pulley is a friction drive pulley.
· The ISP is usually a friction-driven pulley. This configuration is definitely specified for a monitoring precision of 0.030″ (0.762 mm) or greater.
· Teflon® flanges are attached to the pulley body to establish a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP is utilized to set one advantage of the belt against the flange with minimal side-loading to the belt.
System Configuration
Number 2 2 – The drive pulley is a timing pulley.
· The ISP can be a friction driven pulley. One’s teeth of the drive pulley and the perforations of the belt set up a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP is utilized to minimize side-loading of the belt perforations. Tracking accuracy is between 0.008″ (0.203 mm) and 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal belt systems.
OR
· The ISP is usually a timing pulley. The teeth of the ISP and the perforations of the belt are used for precise tracking control of the belt with the steering feature of the ISP utilized to minimize side loading of belt perforations. Again, tracking accuracy is definitely 0.008″ (0.203 mm) to 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal bells.
Note: Although it is generally not recommended to have timing elements in both drive and driven pulleys, this design can be utilized selectively on steel belt systems with long center distances between pulleys and in applications where particulate accumulation on the top of pulley constantly changes the tracking characteristic of the belt.