[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by EricH

What he means, as evidenced by his earlier posts, is actually closer to "margin for error". If you don't place your holes right--say, off by 1/4" in a given direction--belts may be close to impossible to get to work. If you can't handle the risk of being off by 1/4" routinely by adjustment in the belt tension or length, then maybe belt isn't the right choice. OTOH, if you can, then it's something to think about.

While the lengths of belts may not be adjustable like a piece of chain, you are by no means left without any way to solve these types of issues.

Belts can be purchased in single tooth increments for almost all types of profiles and pitches. If you know exactly how much you are off in your implementation compared to the original design, getting another belt should be doable. Incorporating a tensioner, even something simple like a piece of Delrin on an aluminum standoff can work as well. You don't necessarily need a spring tensioner, or something thats adjustable, there are ways to get by with relative simplicity.

Of course the simplest way to solve these issues is to measure twice(or thrice) and cut once.
-Brando