Re: Possible to do multi-speed transmission with v-belt?
 

i would expect a belt system to be lighter, quieter, and to have an inherent 'clutch' fuction. The belts will slip when they really need to (instead of having mechancal parts / shafts snap)

one point - in you use pnuematics to engage the belts you should have an over center latching mechanism. The cylinder locks the latch in place, and then it does not take any continuous force to hold it in place.

the reason is, if you use your pnuematics for anything else, your pressure can drop from time to time, and you dont want your belts slipping everytime another cylinder on the bot somewhere is actuated.