Belts

For pulleys and belts to mesh well, they need to be at specific distances. We use this distance calculator to find those distances.

https://www.reca.lc/belts

input

output


Chain

To mesh well with sprockets, chain needs a specific amount of links. It also needs to be an even number of links, because of how they connect.

http://reca.lc/chains

Start with the bottom section. Sprockets are defined by how many teeth they have, and 99% of the time they'll be the same. Drive sprocket means the one being turned by the motor, and driven means the one that's being indirectly spun.

Make an estimate for Center Distance of the sprockets. Usually for chain, whole numbers or 1/4s work fine.

Once you hit Compute, it gives you the number of links in the chain at that distance. If it's an even number, you're done, and make sure to write it down somewhere.

If not, round the number to an even number. Using the top section, put in the same info, using the rounded Links. This will give you a new Center Distance that you can now put into CAD.