Sizing Timing Belts and Pulleys

3 min read

Dear MISUMI Engineering Team:

We are building a machine that has several shafts driven by stepper motors. These shafts need to be synchronized to each other, but at different speeds. We did some research and it looks like a timing belt system will solve our problem, but we don’t know how to proceed with selecting parts. Could you please provide some tips or recommendations?

Fred J.

Fred, thanks for your question. With any synchronization project, it’s all about the timing. Let’s start with a brief introduction on timing belts, pulleys, and how they work together.

A timing belt is used when the rotation of two different shafts need to be exactly linked. Normal power transmission belts and pulleys are smooth, so the belt can occasionally slip off track (one shaft would be turning while the other remains still). On the other hand, timing belts and pulleys have teeth, which lock the rotation of the shafts and prevent misalignment. In a car, the timing belt links the engine crankshaft to the valve camshaft, thereby making sure that the valves open and close at the correct times. If that belt tears or breaks a tooth, the valves can open at the wrong time and ruin the engine.

 timing belt and pulleyTiming Belt and Pulley Image from Photomacrography

 There are a lot of different variables for belt sizing – width, number of teeth (pitch), material, etc. Each manufacturer will have different recommendations based on your project’s specifications, taking into account shaft speeds, power transmission, environment, and other concerns. Take care not to needlessly oversize – a larger, stiffer belt can cause difficulties with smaller drive motors.

As with any belt and pulley system, you need to identify the rotation ratio between the shafts. For instance, if shaft #1 needs to spin twice as fast as shaft #2, you would have a 2:1 ratio. Once this ratio is calculated, you can then select the pulleys. Looking at the number of teeth on the pulley, find two that match your desired ratio. Continuing with our example, if we had a 16-tooth pulley on shaft #1, we would need a 32-tooth pulley on shaft #2.

belt length calculation Belt Length Image from Nonstop Systems

The next tricky part of the design is figuring out the belt length. You need to know the distance between the centers of the two shafts and the pitch diameters of the two pulleys, which is usually specified by the manufacturer. Most belt manufacturers will provide an online calculator for finding lengths of their belts, but the following formulas can be used to calculate belt length:

calculating belt length

If you need an exact measurement, you can use the following formula:

calculating belt length

where:

  • C = Center to center distance between shafts
  • D1 = Pitch diameter of larger pulley
  • D2 = Pitch diameter of smaller pulley

Note that these formulas don’t take into consideration any pretension on the belt – most recommendations are for 1% – 8%. Belts are only made in certain lengths, so you may need to slightly adjust shaft spacing or pulley diameters to find one that works for you.

Now, all of your system components should be in place. We’ve identified the proper belt type based on the system requirements and manufacturer recommendations, sized the pulleys to the correct shaft ratio, and calculated the belt length. Put everything together, and you’ve got a fine tuned machine that will be the envy of all your neighbors!

Feel free to leave any comments and questions below, or email one of our experts at engineering@misumiusa.com!

About the Author

Carlicia Layosa

Carlicia is the Marketing Automation Manager at MISUMI. She holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in Energy Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate, Marketo Certified Expert, and is passionate about education and training.

4 thoughts on “Sizing Timing Belts and Pulleys

  1. Pingback: Linear Shafts, Posts and Rotary Shafts | MISUMI USA Blog
  2. Hello,
    Great article but I am terrible at math that complicated lol.
    I am building a tumbler with 2 pulleys. Pulley #1 has 20 teeth and a diameter of 0.62mm. Pulley #2 has 60 teeth and a diameter of 1.66mm.
    Amazon link-PAGOW GT2 Synchronous Wheel 20&60 Teeth 6.35mm Bore, Aluminum Timing Pulley with Length 200mm Width 6mm Belt (bore 6.35mm(1pcs a Set) for 3D Printer) /> The center line distance is approximately 15cm or 150mm. I can move pulley 1 about 10 to 12mm left or right. How would I calculate the size belt I need. Here is a link to a picture of my project on my Google Dive.

    Thank you,
    Eliot

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