Why Consider Steel Belts for Your Application?
Engineers who specify metallic belts have options available to them that they do not have when working with other products or components. Some important features and benefits are talked about below.
HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT RATIO:
This is an edge in practically every application where high strength, light weight, or both are essential.
DURABILITY:
Metal belts may withstand sustained contact with extremes of temperature, hostile environments, and vacuum. A variety of alloys can be utilized, each with its own resistance to chemical substances, humidity, and corrosion. Engineers generally select a belt material predicated on physical properties, availability, and cost.
NO LUBRICATION:
Unlike the links of a chain, a metal belt is an individual element and, therefore, does not generate any component friction that will require lubrication. This reduces program maintenance, increases reliability, and keeps the system clean.
NONSTRETCHABLE:
Springtime steels with a high modulus of elasticity make steel belts virtually nonstretchable as compared to other belt types and chain. This makes them ideal in high performance 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 precision of ±0.0005 inches station to station. This high amount of precision is extremely useful in designing indexing, positioning, or processing equipment.
Great THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY:
Metal belts can transmit energy in the type of heat, cold, and electrical power.
NO STATIC BUILD UP:
Steel belts discharge static electrical power, an essential capability in the produce of electronic components such as for example integrated circuits and surface area mount devices.
CLEAN:
Unlike HTD or toned neoprene belts, steel belts do not generate particulate and so are well suited for food and pharmaceutical processing.
CLEAN ROOM COMPATIBLE:
Metal belts usually do not require lubricants and can not generate dirt that would introduce foreign substances into clean area environments. Additionally, they may be sterilized in an autoclave.
PRECISE CONSTRUCTION:
Edges are smooth and measurements are tightly toleranced.
Metal conveyor belt pulleys are critical to the design of any automated conveyor belt system. They act as the driving pressure behind the motion of the belt, making torque and speed. In very general conditions it can be said that pulleys are categorized as friction drive or timing pulleys (type I and II). Precision may be the name of the game when it comes to pulleys. A metal belt is only as good and exact as the pulleys. Most pulleys suggested by Ever-power are made from anodized aluminum (hard coating) with the right friction coefficient to operate a vehicle the metal belt. Stainless steel can also be used but it is expensive and heavy, although it might be indicated in certain applications where extra hardness is essential. If your application requires a lighter pulley, the professionals at Ever-power will help you select the best material.
Selecting the right pulley size and configuration can have a substantial effect on the lifespan and effectiveness of a conveyor belt. Ever-power engineers have the knowledge and experience to help you choose the right pulley type, diameter, and composition to minimize maintenance downtime and increase product volume.
Metal Conveyor Belt Pulley Types
Ever-power designs custom steel conveyor belt pulleys and configurations to bring optimum efficiency to one’s body. While metal conveyor belts are typically made of stainless steel, pulleys can be created from a number of materials, including light weight aluminum or a variety of plastic composites. Depending on the unique requirements of one’s body, the pulleys can also be installed with custom timing attachments, relief stations, and more.
Independently Steerable Pulley
Ever-power has developed a forward thinking concept in smooth belt tracking called the ISP (independently steerable pulley), which can be utilized in the next system designs:
· Two pulley conveyor systems where the ISP may be the idler or driven pulley
· Systems with multiple idler pulleys on a common shaft
· Systems with serpentine or other complex belt paths
Steering flat belts with an ISP is based on the idea of changing tension relationships across the width of the belt by adjusting the position of the pulley in accordance with the belt.
Rather than moving the pulley shaft still left/right or up/down by pillow block adjustment, the ISP fits a adjustable steering collar and sealed bearing assembly to the 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, resulting in controlled, bi-directional 
motion of the belt over the pulley face.
The ISP is exclusively available from Ever-power. It provides a simple approach to steering flat metallic belts. Users may combine ISP steering with the traditional belt tracking styles of crowning, flanging, and timing elements to create a synergistic belt monitoring system which efficiently and exactly 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 designs minimize downtime when changing belts on production machinery.
· ISP system is simple to use and needs no special tools or teaching.
· ISP simplifies the design and assembly of conveyor systems using toned belts.
· Existing idler pulleys may normally be retrofitted to an ISP without major system modifications.
· No maintenance is necessary once the belt tracking parameters have already been established.
· It prolongs belt life by minimizing part loading when using 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 can be used to avoid the shaft from turning.
The Rotated Shaft Method of ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Is used with systems having a single pulley on the shaft.
· Is ALWAYS used when the pulley body can be a capped tube style.
· Is NEVER utilized when multiple pulleys are on a common shaft.
· Utilized selectively when the ISP is certainly a steering roll in a multiple pulley system.
Protected 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 desired tracking features are obtained, avoid the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will at this point rotate about the bearing included in the ISP assembly. This method enables the belt to become tracked while running under tension.
Protected the ISP to the shaft using the split training collar and locking screw built into the ISP. Rotate the shaft and collar as a device. When the required tracking characteristics are obtained, avoid the shaft from rotating by securing the shaft clamp. The pulley body will today rotate about the bearing included in the ISP assembly. This method allows the belt to end up being tracked while running under tension.
The Rotated Collar Method of ISP Flat Belt Tracking
· Used to individually adapt each belt/pulley combination when there are multiple pulleys on a common shaft.
· Utilized when systems have a cantilevered shafting typical of serpentine and additional complex belt path systems. It is suggested 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 required belt tracking characteristics are attained, secure the locking screw.
Which Design Is Right for You?
There are numerous applications for 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 head in the look and manufacturing of application-specific pulleys, metal belts, and drive tapes. Our products provide exclusive benefits for machinery used in precision positioning, timing, conveying, and automated manufacturing applications.
System Configuration
#1 1 – The drive pulley is a friction drive pulley.
· The ISP is usually a friction-driven pulley. This configuration is certainly specified for a monitoring precision of 0.030″ (0.762 mm) or greater.
· Teflon® flanges are mounted on the pulley body to determine a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP can be used to set one advantage of the belt against the flange with reduced 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 establish a lateral constraint. The steering feature of the ISP can be used to reduce side-loading of the belt perforations. Tracking precision is between 0.008″ (0.203 mm) and 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal belt systems.
OR
· The ISP is certainly 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 certainly 0.008″ (0.203 mm) to 0.015″ (0.381 mm) for metal bells.
Note: Although it is generally not recommended to possess timing elements in both drive and driven pulleys, this style can be utilized selectively on metal belt systems with long middle distances between pulleys and in applications where particulate accumulation on the surface of the pulley continually changes the tracking characteristic of the belt.