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

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

For clarification purposes, the 'round belting" we are talking about as actually called what?

In the McMaster online catalog I found this, EPDM Rubber Cord and Polyurethane Cord. Is this the 'right stuff'?

Mcmaster P/N# : 59725K704.... this is the same kind of 'stuff' your looking for.

This particular variety is 1/4" dia., orange in color (which is slightly softer durometer and matches rosie's colors ), and a 2" min. pulley diameter.

You can pick whatever variety you actually need.

[Rosiebotboss]

Yeah, that's the stuff. I must have had a brain cramp. I couldn't find it. Thanks, Brando.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

Yeah, that's the stuff. I must have had a brain cramp. I couldn't find it. Thanks, Brando.

no problem!

[rjamesjr]

Our team is trying out round belting, but we are having some trouble carrying the ball. The belts keep splitting and not grabbing the ball. Any suggestions?

[purduephotog]

Originally Posted by rjamesjr

Our team is trying out round belting, but we are having some trouble carrying the ball. The belts keep splitting and not grabbing the ball. Any suggestions?

Use more belts, closer together, with pulleys? Use less distance between axles ? Use less compression of the ball? Place the axles so that they form triangles between three, instead of having each one directly across from each other?

I'm not sure what you meant by splitting.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by rjamesjr

Our team is trying out round belting, but we are having some trouble carrying the ball. The belts keep splitting and not grabbing the ball. Any suggestions?

You need to make sure you put grooves in whatever pulleys you are using....otherwise, there is nothing keeping the belts from separating (i'm assuming thats what you meant by splitting).

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

You need to make sure you put grooves in whatever pulleys you are using....otherwise, there is nothing keeping the belts from separating (i'm assuming thats what you meant by splitting).

Unless he means that the cords themselves are splitting when formed into a loop??
If that's the case, then your tension is way too high on your belting.
If you just heat up the ends & melt them together & let the completed loop cure for a while, they should suffice for a while.
Also, if you can, try using very thin wall shrink tubing to assist in holding the joint together as an added protection from the splitting.
Don't forget to put that on before you join the two ends though... or you may have a bit of an issue.


Another trick I heard of was to "tin" the ends?? I heard that terminology thrown around the shop before, but I'm not sure what it means exactly.
Maybe throwing some solder on the ends of the plastic helps the adhesion process a bit??
I'll have to find out, & report back here with my findings. Maybe it was just team slang for the heating process we used in the past? Not sure.

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Mcmaster P/N# : 59725K704.... this is the same kind of 'stuff' your looking for.

This particular variety is 1/4" dia., orange in color (which is slightly softer durometer and matches rosie's colors ), and a 2" min. pulley diameter.

You can pick whatever variety you actually need.

if you want the Green belting, the 6mm stuff is the same but in Green. Part #8112K33

[rjamesjr]

The belts are separating while carrying the ball, and the ball is getting stuck.

[Jared Russell]

Maybe increase the tension in the belts?

[vivek16]

Try increasing the tension in the belts.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by rjamesjr

The belts are separating while carrying the ball, and the ball is getting stuck.

are there grooves in the pulleys?? if no, then add them....if yes, increase tension

[Jonathan Norris]

Depending on the length of your belting (especially using thin poly cord), you will need extra rollers in the middle. Or you can just use some thin 1/4" AL rod to support the belts from flexing inward too much. Belting takes a lot of tweaking and babying to work perfectly.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Has anyone tested the green rough type belting vs. the orange or clear not-as-rough types? Any opinions on either of them?

Also, from everyone's testing, what seems to be a good minimum spacing between your belts for this year's game?