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Tag: stainless steel timing belts

Driving Innovation in Automation Technologies with Stainless Steel Belts

Posted on by Devon LaChance

Stainless steel conveyor belts, timing belts, and drive tapes can be found in some of the most innovative automation technologies of our time. The versatility and durability of stainless steel make it an ideal material choice for a variety of industries. Belts and drive tapes made of stainless steel are easily customized to suit a wide range of operating conditions and handling requirements. They can endure extreme temperatures, heavy loads, and even caustic chemicals without warping, breaking, or losing positional accuracy. These characteristics give stainless steel drive tapes, timing belts, and conveyor belts the advantage when it comes to cutting-edge automation technology.

Expanding 3D-Printing Applications

33D-printing technology is rapidly becoming a mainstay in the world of manufacturing. 3D printers now exist in many sizes and capabilities; they range from smaller, desktop models designed for use at home to huge, industrial models capable of fabricating complex equipment such as bridges and boats. Belt Technologies engineers have provided 3D printer OEMs with design feedback and support as well as the stainless steel printing belts and drive tapes that make it all possible.

Our team has worked on a variety of 3D-printing projects that push the boundaries of this burgeoning industry. For example, one manufacturer was working on a design for a portable, desktop model of a 3D printer. Belt Technologies designed and produced for the customer a miniaturized printing belt that included tiny pulleys. Creating a functioning printer head and belt at such a small scale was a unique challenge that our team was happy to meet head-on.

Belt Technologies has helped with the design and production of very large 3D printers, too. One recent customer required belts for massive machines intended for the production of industrial equipment. Instead of a printer head that moved side to side as it lays down material, these specific 3D printers were designed to use a belt that moves the printed object around a nearly stationary printer head. The size of the objects being printed put a heavy frictional load on the belt; inferior belt materials damaged too easily and would not last very long. Belt Technologies engineers provided the customer with a solid, stainless steel belt with a friction-reducing coating on the interior diameter to help extend the belt’s lifespan and maximize product throughput.

Robotics Applications Benefit from the Strength and Precision of Stainless Steel

automated assembly robotic armWhen we think of “futuristic technologies,” robots are probably one of the first things to come to mind. Although science is still a long way from creating the kind of robots we might be accustomed to seeing in science fiction, there are many industries that use robotics as part of their everyday operation. Robotic assembly lines are a common automation tool that make it possible to produce sensitive electronics, medical equipment, and other products that require absolute precision.

Belt Technologies engineers have worked with multiple robotic automation OEMs to design and produce equipment for the safe handling of products such as semiconductor wafers and vaccines. Stainless steel drive tapes are ideal for these applications. They are virtually non-stretchable and able to provide repeatable, precise motion profiles. Robotic arms with stainless steel drive tapes can perform an action thousands of times, with no change in the range of motion per cycle. They are also easy to clean, do not require lubrication, and do not generate particulates, making them ideal for kind of sterile environments such as in clean rooms and vacuum spaces, where robotics technologies are generally needed.

Do you have a new, innovative automation challenge that would benefit from the unique properties of stainless steel? Contact the experts at Belt Technologies today to learn more.

Metal Timing Belts for Extreme Temperature Environments

Posted on by Devon LaChance

A customer recently came to Belt Technologies for help with an automated system. The system used a timing belt with specific, built-in compartments to transport vials of medical biopsies. The timing belt carried the vials to a refrigerated storage system. Because the samples needed to be kept at low temperatures to remain usable, the original belt material lasted a very limited number of cycles and required frequent replacement and maintenance.

When designing timing belts for applications involving extreme temperatures, the specific properties of the belt material must be considered to achieve optimal performance. Belt Technologies can help you choose the right material for your timing belt with expert advice based on years of experience dealing with challenging high and low temperature automation applications requiring precise timing.

Overcome the Challenges of Intense Hot and Cold Operating Conditions with the Unique Properties of Stainless Steel

Extreme temperatures can shorten the lifespan of your automated equipment, causing damage that results in frequent and costly adjustment, replacement, and repair. Inferior materials such as plastic, rubber, or cloth will warp, burn, or fall apart when exposed to high temperatures. In extremely cold temperatures, belt materials will shrink or become brittle, leading to the eventual failure of the belt. Choosing a material that is able to withstand the continuous stress of an extreme temperature environment will help maintain operational efficiency by preventing unnecessary damage.

Stainless steel has many beneficial properties for automated manufacturing. One of these benefits is its low thermal coefficient of expansion, which enables stainless steel alloys to resist a wide range of temperature extremes without warping or breaking. Our engineers can help you choose the specific grade of stainless steel that will be the most effective for your application. For extremely elevated temperatures, our engineers typically recommend Inconel, which has the ability to resist temperatures as high as 1,600°F. Other options include Invar, which will resist distortion in temperatures up to 400°F.

Timing belts require additional consideration during the design phase to compensate for the material effects of extreme temperatures and ensure accurate indexing and positioning is preserved. Our engineers can ensure your timing belt will maintain proper tensioning and product position, even in conditions where the temperature may cause the belt material to shrink or expand.

Expert Material and Design Advice from Experienced Engineers

Belt Technologies has experience with engineering challenges that deal with precise timing applications operating within extreme temperature environments, such as:

  • Indexed cooking/freezing applications
  • Semiconductor production
  • Cleanroom environments and vacuum chambers
  • Cooking ovens for food processing
  • Annealing ovens for glass, such as those used to produce light bulbs
  • CNC cutting tables (plasma, laser, water jet, etc.)

For the medical manufacturer seeking a more temperature-resistant timing belt for their medical biopsy transportation system, ensuring the accuracy of the belt was the main priority. The medical biopsies would be transported long distances and the belt needed to return precisely to its starting position. The expert team at Belt Technologies recommended replacing the belt with a standard 300-series stainless steel timing belt. Our engineers were able to provide the client with a 300-series stainless steel timing belt with accurate tensioning for the temperature conditions of the customer’s automated system so that the belt positioning would remain precise and constant.

Belt Technologies can provide expert design and engineering advice for timing belt applications involving extreme temperatures. With advanced material expertise and experience, our engineers can help you choose the right grade of stainless steel to ensure your automated system will continue to function smoothly and efficiently. For more information about stainless steel timing belts for high or low temperature applications, contact Belt Technologies today.