Join timing belts

[GMAdan]

My team is competing in another competition and we are building a timing belt tread system. Now our problem is the belt did not come closed in a band but open in a strip. Now we cut them to the length needed but what would be the best way to join the two ends.

[MrForbes]

Maybe the place you got the belt from has some type of connecting part? If you give us a bit more info about the belt, ie. manufacturer and part number, we might be able to provide more help.

[les chortos]

Look at buying the timting belt in a complete loop already.- I know we have an industrial belt and conveyor belt supplier in our town and they will volcanize belts together any length you need and and any width. You may need to ask them if they can take "rough top" conveyor belting and put on a "toothed" base - so you can drive it with a timing belt pulley. I saw some robots at GTR with this system. seemed ok.--


good luck.- tracks are a tough cookie to bake.

[Conor Ryan]

Maybe you'll want to try using a bigger belt size and adding a tensioner to keep it tensioned properly (you can even make the tensioner adjustable!). Timing belts typically don't have lacing options like Conveyor Belts do because they are typically used in high RPM situations, but there are probably some options out there, but I'd doubt how reliable they'll be.

As far as most robots that use treads, BRECOflex is undoubtedly the most popular choice for robots using treads to drive, Superflex Blue is one I'd recommend. Most teams go with Roughtop/Wedgetop Conveyor Belt Tread from McMaster-Carr when putting tread on their wheels. BRECOflex has a document on treads for robots on their site, here.

[GMAdan]

thank you for the ideas, we brought the belts from Mc Master.

[tseres]

theres this new glue called "the last glue"....i dunno where you can buy it, because we got ours at the boat show...anyways, this stuff is good enough to glue car belts back together to use...