Metal Multi-Layered Drive Tapes

Conveyor Belt Layers Add Strength and Durability

Metal multi-layered drive tapes consist of two to seven stacked bands ranging in thickness from 0.003 to 0.005 inches (0.08 to 0.127 mm). This design approach substantially increases belt life and reliability for drive tapes carrying a large load with a reduced pulley diameter. The thinness of the band allows the designer to reduce pulley diameter when space is a concern, while the increased cross-sectional area provided by the multi-layer design ensures its capacity to carry large working loads.

Much like their single-layer counterparts, multi-layered steel drive tapes offer zero-backlash and capitalize on the material’s high modulus of elasticity to add stiffness to the designer’s mechanism.

A stainless steel belt’s stiffness, or its very high modulus of elasticity, serves to resist elongation, which adds to the belt’s ability to be very precise under normal operating loads.  Additionally, when used to actuate a robotic arm, two steel belts can work in tandem with one belt oriented to drive the reversing motion.  Given the stiffness of dual band assembly, this design can handle rapid reversing movements without introducing backlash to the system. Metal multilayer drive tapes are typically used in this configuration to handle even greater loads and acceleration. 

Benefits of Metal Multi-layered Drive Tapes

Metal multilayer drive tapes offer a unique advantage over single-layer drive tapes: their ability to increase load weight without having to increase pulley diameter. Their multiple layers allow for the strength of a thicker band, but they work in tandem to provide the flexibility of a thinner band. Accordingly, this belt design is optimal when heavy loads are involved without the space available for a pulley of the size required to handle a thicker, single-layer drive tape.

Are Metal Multi-Layered Drive Tapes Right for Your Application?

For more information about multi-layered belts or to find out if conveyor belt layers are required for your application, contact the experts at Belt Technologies today.