Round Belting - Solid vs. Hollow, Polycord vs. McMaster

[dtengineering]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. For 1/4" belting the solid core at McMaster is $.90/ft and the hollow is $1.22/ft. It sounds like we can't go wrong by getting either of them, and it is pretty apparent that the custom welding set up won't be needed.

As for the brand-name polycord at smallparts... well... it doesn't sound like the 400% increase in price ($4.20 in 10' lengths) is worth it.

And the tips on the wide belting from econobelt are good too.

Thanks to all,

Jason

[lynca]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. For 1/4" belting the solid core at McMaster is $.90/ft and the hollow is $1.22/ft. It sounds like we can't go wrong by getting either of them, and it is pretty apparent that the custom welding set up won't be needed.

I am not sure if this Dayton Urethane Round Belt is the same quality as mcmaster. But this company has more specifications about the different types of belts (its roughly the same price).

http://www.drillspot.com/products/42...YV9_Round_Belt

What do most people suggest in terms of texture of the belt ?

Orange = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 90)
Green = Rough
Clear = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 80)

What's the difference between clear & orange, mainly hardness ?

How does hardness affect ball collecting ability?

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by lynca

I am not sure if this Dayton Urethane Round Belt is the same quality as mcmaster. But this company has more specifications about the different types of belts (its roughly the same price).

http://www.drillspot.com/products/42...YV9_Round_Belt

What do most people suggest in terms of texture of the belt ?

Orange = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 90)
Green = Rough
Clear = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 80)

What's the difference between clear & orange, mainly hardness ?

How does hardness affect ball collecting ability?

I would say hardness affects how grippy it is. Shore A is still decently grippy, a colson wheel is 65 A for reference. I imagine if it was too soft, and in the 30-65 range like banebots/colson wheels (just as a reference), it would wear too quick and be too weak.

Originally Posted by lynca

I am not sure if this Dayton Urethane Round Belt is the same quality as mcmaster. But this company has more specifications about the different types of belts (its roughly the same price).

http://www.drillspot.com/products/42...YV9_Round_Belt

What do most people suggest in terms of texture of the belt ?

Orange = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 90)
Green = Rough
Clear = Smooth (hardness = Shore A 80)

What's the difference between clear & orange, mainly hardness ?

How does hardness affect ball collecting ability?

To put things in perspective, the average longboard wheel is between 70a and 81a. An average skateboard wheel is between 90a and 98a, depending on the brand.

[=Martin=Taylor=]

We have some of that green polycord stuff lying around...

We've never used it, it doesn't look like it could apply sufficient grip to lift the balls.

Has anyone tested it out on the balls?

We've always used neoprene o-rings from mcmaster. They'll only last the season before falling apart, but they have tremendous grip and are very strong.

[Ice Berg]

So I've been searching for these on McMaster, and I've narrowed it down to 3 colors. One of these colors (green) has a larger minimum pulley diameter than the other two. Aside from obviously needing to use a larger pulley, what does this mean about the belt itself? Someone mentioned that the green was more rough than the other colors, it also happens to be the one that needs a larger pulley. Is this because it is more rough?

I also just noticed that the green stuff is $5.40 per foot as opposed to the other ones that are $.99 per foot.

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by Ice Berg

I also just noticed that the green stuff is $5.40 per foot as opposed to the other ones that are $.99 per foot.

some of the cord is reinforced, some is food grade, some is smooth surface, some is rough surface.

the material that is $5.40 / foot is reinforced.

[ebarker]

datasheets are here, food grade and non-food grade

http://www.habasit.com/1976.html

[Darren Collins]

I have a question about what rollers people are using with the polycord. Specifically for the drive roller and then the idlers. I had thought pvc pipe, but I presume there are other more elegant solutions available. Thanks.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by D Collins

I have a question about what rollers people are using with the polycord. Specifically for the drive roller and then the idlers. I had thought pvc pipe, but I presume there are other more elegant solutions available. Thanks.

We have a couple of igus rods from previous years (3/4" diameter iirc), so we'll add that to this year's rod and use those for our rollers. If you can mill a keyway in the rod, it mates perfectly with the black plastic hubs that attach directly to the window motors. If not, then perhaps you may get away with drilling & bolting through the hub and rod.

This simplicity is our only reason for using these rollers.

[DeMentor]

I just wanted to say "thanks!!!" to everyone posting on this thread for all the useful ideas. You saved us a lot of time. Will try some of the polycord and see how it compares to surgical tubing for our intended design in a quick mock-up.

[Gdeaver]

Grainger has good prices on 50' roll of 1/4" round belting, If teams haven't already ordered.

[Kims Robot]

Slightly different topic, but has anyone compared V Belt to the Polycord? Has anyone USED V Belt on a robot before? We found tons of examples of teams that used polycord, and have even used it ourselves, but have been experimenting with V Belt in our initial prototypes. It seems to work well and slip out less, but one of our mechanical engineers was thinking that as its used it has more potential to come out of the pulley...

Any thoughts?

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Gdeaver

Grainger has good prices on 50' roll of 1/4" round belting, If teams haven't already ordered.

As advice to any teams looking to save money by purchasing round belting from Grainger right now: avoid it. 228 purchased 100 feet of 3/16" orange round belting from them almost a week ago, and despite being listed as "in stock" on their website we just received an email that it won't be shipped out until the first week of February.

Since this will be too late to really help us (except for replacement/stockpile parts), last night we ordered another 150 feet of it from McMaster and it'll probably be in sometime today or tomorrow.

[Woodworker88]

Originally Posted by Ice Berg

Someone mentioned that the green was more rough than the other colors, it also happens to be the one that needs a larger pulley. Is this because it is more rough?

No, it needs a larger pulley diameter because it is stiffer. The fact that it is rougher is separate and not really related.