Chief Delphi - Chain vs. Belts?!?

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- General Forum (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16)

- - Chain vs. Belts?!? (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149325)

Jay O'Donnell

20-08-2016 00:29

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Lesco (Post 1601869)

Chains suck if you dont know how to instal them or get that finicky half link in however used correctly i think its fine. As for belts, a good belt is better in my opinion "but belts might stretch" people argue. Youre using the thing for 6 hours flat out total at most, it doesnt matter in the time span of build and comp unless youre using a multiyear old belt. BELLLTSSSS

For FRC applications belts shouldn't stretch. Chains will stretch though.

Chak	20-08-2016 01:17

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell (Post 1601870)

For FRC applications belts shouldn't stretch. Chains will stretch though.

I've heard that multiple times, but I've always wondered what "FRC applications" means. After all, one team's robot might go through tons of matches and hours of practices. Another team's robot might go through just one competition with minimal practice time. Doesn't the difference in runtime affect how much chains/belts stretch?

Jay O'Donnell

20-08-2016 01:26

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chak (Post 1601872)

For chains definitely. Belts just don't really stretch under normal loads of an FRC robot.

Cothron Theiss

20-08-2016 01:51

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chak (Post 1601872)

Because of the fiberglass tensile members in the belts we use, there isn't much 'stretch' in the belt at all, regardless of loading. Basically, if you're putting enough load on the belt to stretch it, it's about to snap, and cause a complete failure. Belts do not stretch appreciably over time. Theoretically, the teeth of the belt will deflect under shock loading because the tensile members do not support the teeth themselves, but that doesn't really affect wear and tear, that just increases the likelihood of ratcheting when you're overloading the belt's hold on the pulley.

Oblarg

20-08-2016 17:50

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chak (Post 1601872)

Yes, but even given the variation in runtime between different FRC robots, the runtimes of all FRC robots are on a scale that's orders-of-magnitude smaller than that of these parts in actual industry, so "FRC applications" remains a very meaningful distinction.

ollien

20-08-2016 18:09

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell (Post 1601870)

For FRC applications belts shouldn't stretch. Chains will stretch though.

How does one account for stretch? Tensioners like delrin rods on bolts?

asid61

20-08-2016 18:13

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollien (Post 1601968)

How does one account for stretch? Tensioners like delrin rods on bolts?

Basically having tensioners at some point, yes. There's a lot of ways to do it, including using idler sprockets, bare tensioners like you describe, or moving the bearing blocks farther away from each other via a Vex cam.
I heard from someone on 1296 that they used preloaded chain to account for chain wear-in so that they could run direct C-C without any change in tension over the course of a season.

Jay O'Donnell

20-08-2016 19:22

Re: Chain vs. Belts?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollien (Post 1601968)

How does one account for stretch? Tensioners like delrin rods on bolts?

All sorts of different ways to tension chain. You can find nice ones on McMaster but are expensive, but if you don't over tension you can get away with Delrin of some sort.

Be careful to not over tension. Cost 229 a chance at a regional win this year.

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