You can buy pulleys of different types - round belt pulleys, flat belt pulleys and V-belt pulleys. A flat belt pulley or the flat belt sheave is the best option for high-speed, low-power applications. Typical applications of flat belt pulleys are in textiles, paper industries and in office machinery such as computer printers.
The advantage of a flat belt pulley system is that in over torque situations, the belt restricts the damage. Flat belt drive pulleys and flat belt idler pulleys have a crown, which keeps the belt in center and provides support to the center of the belt where there is maximum stress. Flat belt pulleys are also useful when used behind a conventional V-belt.
For general flat belt applications, use steel pulleys. However, for applications that require a high strength to weight ratio, aluminum or bronze pulleys are better options. Plastic and composite materials are other options to improve the strength to weight ratio of a pulley.
Some of the important parameters you must consider before purchasing a flat belt pulley are:
- Torque and load acting on the flat belt pulley
- Required diameter and bore size
- Required type of flat belt pulley such as non-flanged, single flange or double flange
Buy a suitable flat belt pulley from a reputable manufacturer
Once you understand your requirements, start searching for different standard pulleys offered by flat belt pulley manufacturers.
Buy a flat belt pulley from a retailer or a distributor
You can also buy a flat belt pulley from a retailer or a distributor after comparing products from different manufacturers. The retailers may also provide a discount if you are buying in bulk.
Buy a customized flat belt pulley
If the standard flat belt pulleys available in the market do not meet your application requirements, consult a custom flat belt pulley manufacturer. You can order a customized flat belt pulley by providing the required flat belt pulley specification to the manufacturer.
New Hampshire Industries to get custom made steel flat belt pulleys. W.M. Berg offers standard as well as customized aluminum and steel pulleys. Brewer Machine & Gear offers customized power transmission drive components including flat belt pulleys.
- Consult an expert to align your flat belt pulley system in a proper manner.
- Keep an inventory of fasteners used for flat belt pulleys to avoid downtime.
