My google searching skills may just be broken, but I can’t find any kind of source to buy in-line chain tensioners from. I can find all sorts of side mounted tensioners but would really just prefer to use an inline one. If you aren’t familiar, an in-line tensioner works similar to a turnbuckle but doesn’t rely on rotation of the loaded end to apply tension.
If anyone could point me to a site (or even a certain hobby store) I would really appreciate it.
Something like this from Team 221 Robotic Systems might work for you.
Just out of curiosity, have you experienced problems with turnbuckles in this application before?
I assume you don’t want this for wheels, since the tensioner would be unable to go past the sprockets.
We built our lift chain tensioners into the lift plate. We just bought some thumb screws, drilled holes big enough to pass the pin from a master link through it, and used the master link to connect the chain to a screw at each end. The lift plate has two holes which are in the same line, large enough to pass the threads through, and far enough apart so the screws can’t meet. We used jam nuts to tension the chain and lock it down.
There we go, that is exactly what I was imagining. We are using #35 chain, but I imagine we could just widen the mounting holes to use #8 bolts. Thanks!
Misumi also sells them.
See the note that it’s only recommended for light duty applications. I believe it was designed for steering chains on a swerve/crab drive. You could PM Anthony Lapp and ask him for his opinon.
We put together a rough sketch with a turnbuckle from mcmaster and a couple aluminum L-brackets for mounting to our elevator lift carriage.
http://2015.discobots.org/node/16