A pulley is an important part of many industrial systems, including material handling, conveyor and sorting businesses. The fishing and crabbing industries also use pulley systems to bring in traps. Pulley providers offer a lot of information on pulleys and pulley systems so you know what size and type of pulley to buy according the the rope or cable and weight requirements of the system.

You should also pay attention to the material the pulley is made from. This is especially important if you plan to use pulley systems outside. Other factors that affect pulleys pricing and costs include:

1. The way the pulleys are mounted.

2. The type of cable or rope the pulley can handle.

3. The weight load a pulley can handle.

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Buy a chain pulley for sale

A chain pulley system is essential for many materials handling operations because it can lift large loads. The weight strength for chain pulleys is 1000 pounds or more. These types of pulleys stay stationary. Small chain pulleys for conveyor systems are available for $7 to $10. Large chain pulleys cost $60 to $100, depending on weight capacity and size of the pulley system. More expensive chain pulleys are also electric for automated movement.

I recommend: Berg provides chain pulleys in a variety of sizes and strength for your particular needs, with pricing available on request. B&B Manufacturing sells a variety of smaller timing belt pulleys for conveyor systems. It offers excellent bulk deals; in some cases, an order of 250 units or more is almost half off the list price.

Consider cable pulleys for sale

Cable pulleys are made from metals and Acetal instead of plastics, like some rope pulleys. A cable pulley can easily handle the friction of steel cables without wear on the pulley system or the cable itself. Cable pulleys may cost $5 to $25 depending on the size of the pulley and the weight limit of the cable.

I recommend: Sava Industries publishes an excellent on the relative costs to consider when choosing a cable pulley. It has a chart that lists pulley costs in order of cheapest to most expensive, and lists each system's length tolerances. Small Parts sells smaller sizes of steel cable idler pulleys for conveyor machinery.

Find a pulley supplier that sells equipment for heavy industrial use

Industrial pulleys are the cornerstone of many conveyor and warehouse operations. Pulleys make it easier to move products along conveyor belts or carry the products from one side of the warehouse or factory to the other. Industrial pulleys can cost over $600, depending on the weight and rope width specifications.

I recommend: Applied Industrial Technologies offers a conveyor pulley that can handle up to 198 pounds and works in many different conveyor systems. KOFAB sells heavy duty conveyor pulleys made specifically for materials handling in food processing. The company will give you a quote on request, after you define the specs you need.

Pulleys keep many machines moving, from printers to planes to optical equipment. Especially important is finding suppliers who can customize products for your industrial needs. Such providers should have their own turning, milling and welding operations to fabricate pulleys for you.

Size, quantity and material will determine the cost of pulleys. Finding a supplier who will keep parts in stock for you is also important. Use this guide to get information about pulleys so that you can make the best business decisions:

1. Figure out your needs and choose pulley products and manufacturers who specialize in your field.
2. Get some specifications on idler pulleys you require so that you can narrow your search.
3. Seek info on pulleys from pulley providers for the wire industry (or even customize your order).
   

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Seek pulley distributors who specialize

Seek information on pulleys -- by type, so that you make sure the manufacturer will provide what you need. Some pulley suppliers make products for heavy use, such as cranes, mining equipment and oil field equipment. Others make pulleys for lighter use, such as office machines, printers and mail handling. Pick the one that will work well with your business needs.

I recommend: Sample some product offerings at companies such as Bear Equipment Inc. that makes pulleys for heavy industrial use or Fenner Precision for pulleys for office products. Also, find other pulley providers at ThomasNet.

Consider your requirements for idler pulleys to meet your mechanical needs

As you check what pulley providers are out there, look for a company that is experienced and has knowledge and capabilities in stamping, turning, assembling, and welding precision drive and idler pulleys and sheaves. Factor in the needs of your business and choose a few companies that build the types of pulleys you're looking for so that you can have your required products in stock.

I recommend: Let your mouse do the walking through a catalog of pulley selections to help your search. Pulley distributors such as Sheaves and New Hampshire Industries have online catalogs where you can order your pulleys.

Find pulleys for use in the wire industry

Look for a job shop that can manufacture pulleys for use in the wire industry. Specialized pulleys can handle products such as clean wire, fiber optic and insulated wire products.

I recommend: York Industries and Rand Machine Co. have custom design features you can use to find price quotes on pulleys manufactured to your precise needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check around at machine shops, factories, warehouses, and distribution centers--any business that might use pulleys--and see who their suppliers are. You might obtain some helpful information about pulleys and the best places to find quality items.

The pulley is a simple machine that has many complex uses. The basic purpose is to making moving or lifting things easier. The advantage is that in exchange for very little effort, difficult tasks can be completed.

There are different types of pulleys and each has its own style of application. A pulley supplier can use knowledge of the uses of types of pulleys to his business advantage. Sharing how a product can make someone's life easier is a positive selling point. The pulley types are:

1. Fixed pulleys

2. Movable pulleys

3. Combined pulleys

Applications of the pulley are all around us. From flag poles to the working parts under the cars we drive and the speeds on a bike, pulleys help make our lives easier. Their biggest asset for the common user is to create motion transfer with the least amount of effort.

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Recognize pulleys applications and uses

Some uses of pulleys are obvious like the rigging on a sailboat or the lifting ability of a crane. Other applications are not so obvious, with complex moving parts hidden inside housings. Most machines use a pulley of some sort. For example, pulleys are used in vehicles to increase their power and make them run more smoothly.

I recommend: Carolyn Gundrum presents information on pulleys in photographic form for fast recognition of pulley uses.

Explore fixed and movable pulleys

An example of a fixed pulley is a weight machine. The pulley is in a fixed position and the load changes direction with the use of force on the other end. Instead of exerting the great amount of force to necessary to lift an object up, the fixed pulley takes much less effort to pull down in order to lift the load on the other end of the fulcrum. With a movable pulley, the pulley itself moves with the application of force. A zipline is an example of a movable pulley.

I recommend: The Apple Learning Interchange explores the use of pulleys as a solution to a lifting dilemma. Rhonda Salzmon explains the use of pulleys in an elevator system.

Discover pulleys used in more complex machinery systems

Pulley providers sometimes need to offer solutions that involve complex systems in order to best solve a particular problem. This can mean using two or more pulleys both movable and fixed. A complex pulley system can achieve both change in direction and increase in mechanical productivity. With the addition of more pulleys, the effort to move the load is lessened.

I recommend: Summerlift offers pulley products for the creation of new and retro-fit pop up furniture. Hanover Doors uses a pulley system in their door lifts.

Pulleys are a key component in industrial machinery. Pulleys are also used in other settings such as automotive repair and warehouses. There are many types of pulley systems, specialty pulleys and custom fabricated pulleys available. Get to know the basic terminology of pulleys so that you will have a better understanding of how they work and which one is right for your business.

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Types

A basic pulley system consists of a wheel with a rope or chain wrapped around it. Objects are fastened to the rope and the operator pulls on it to move the object. The act of pulling down makes moving an object easier than lifting it. Two basic types of pulleys are fixed and movable. Another type, a combination pulley, uses two pulleys to make lifting easier.

I recommend: See the Summerland Group for detailed information about types of pulleys and pulley physics.

Fixed pulley

In a fixed pulley system, the base stays in place and only the load moves. A fixed system requires more effort to move the load, but it can still be pulled easily.

I recommend: See LEGO Education for a definition and more information on fixed pulleys.

Movable pulley

With a movable pulley system, the load and the pulley move when the rope is pulled. This requires less effort, but the pulley must be pulled or pushed.

I recommend: See ThinkQuest for diagrams and a definition of movable pulleys.

Idler pulleys

Idler pulleys act as rollers, moving a chain around a curve or reducing slack. Examples of idler pulleys include industrial idler pulleys and metric idler pulleys. Styles include cable, plain, V-belt and flat.

I recommend: See GlobalSpec for more information about idler pulleys.

Deflector pulley assemblies

Deflector pulley assemblies are used in industrial applications to support wire over long lengths or to change wire direction.

I recommend: Visit Rand Machine & Fabrication to see examples of deflector pulley assemblies.

Industrial

There are many types of pulleys designed for specialty industrial applications and machinery. They include taper lock pulleys, variable speed pulleys, flat pulleys and timing pulleys.

I recommend: Check out B.V.Transmission Industries to see listings of various types of industrial pulleys.