Timing Belt Drive System

[KenWittlief]

I dont think the hits our robots take come close to the forces on the drive belt of an 800 lb motorcycle

when the rider revs the engine up, and dumps the clutch to spin the wheel - you are talking about 100 HP directly loaded up on that belt

or someone who is not coordinated, shifting incorrectly - transferrring the momentum of the motorcycle back to the transmission, through the drive belt

or making a panic stop - hitting the brake and locking up the back wheel - stalling the engine through the drive belt

the amount of forces on a motorcycle drive belt are far beyond anything you can get on a FIRST robot.

If your robot is hit and the drive system is knocked out of wack - you bend a frame member that is holding a pulley in alignment, or you knock the belt tension wheel out of postion - then yes, your belt drive system cannot work if the pulleys are no longer aligned

but that is true with any mechanical energy transfer system - chains, gears, drive shafts... Your drive train must be installed on a robust chassis if you expect your robot to keep working after you mix it up with other bots on the field.