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
- Our pulleys vary in tooth count (18T or 24T) and width (5mm or 3mm). Choose the width from the top drop-down, where it says 5mm HTD/GT2. 5mm is wider than 3mm, and they'll have different belt lengths.
- Tooth count can change for the 2 pulleys, under Pulley 1 and Pulley 2. If the teeth counts are different, there will be a reduction, so 99% of the time they should be the same. (18 or 24)
- Last thing we need is an estimate for center distance, which goes in Desired Center. Desired Center shouldn't be exact, just in the area where the pulley should go.
output
- The calculator has 2 outputs, Smaller Belt and Larger Belt, so you can pick between them based on what you need. The Center Distance is the exact number that you would put in CAD. Be sure to also write down the # of Teeth and types of pulleys used so it's not forgotten.
- For more options, change around the pulley sizes and widths. The types of pulleys are interchangeable, so it doesn't really matter.
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.