idea for linear belt drive

**dickieto** · 19-01-2010

hi everyone

just thought i'd share an idea for a belt driven linear gantry on a large router table
i was going with belts to keep cost down as the wife doesn't know what i am up to yet:naughty:
just an idea running around in my head as i am trying to gather up parts just now
has any one any thoughts on it?
do you think there would be to much drag on the stepper motor
sorry for the crappy autocad drawings!!

Tom

**BillTodd** · 19-01-2010

That is a very good idea (wished I'd thought of it :)) Reminds me of Mike Everman's servo belt idea (worth reading for belt info)

You'll probably need to gear down the drive from the stepper/servo to the drive belt to get the desired resolution. And, make sure the belt you choose has sufficient tooth strength to put up with the dynamic load.

I like it .

[edit] This is dickieto's idea for those of you without a dxf viewer:

**dickieto** · 19-01-2010

Originally Posted by BillTodd

That is a very good idea (wished I'd thought of it :)) Reminds me of Mike Everman's servo belt idea (worth reading for belt info)

You'll probably need to gear down the drive from the stepper/servo to the drive belt to get the desired resolution. And, make sure the belt you choose has sufficient tooth strength to put up with the dynamic load.

I like it .

[edit] This is dickieto's idea for those of you without a dxf viewer:

thanks bill,how do you change autocad drawings into something everyone can see?
i tried for ages to upload these drawings!

**Ross77** · 19-01-2010

Sweet. Thats so simple, unless I'm reading it wrong. Is that in plan with the belts running through the y axis?

**irving2008** · 19-01-2010

its the same idea that was documented here to avoid racking when usiing one leadscrew offset from centre. The neat idea here is to make it the drive mechanism too... and I've not seen that before! The great thing about this is the pulleys at each end run in the same direction and in sync, so this works as a drive mechanism. 15 or 20mm belts can take some punishment, so it could work well....

**BillTodd** · 19-01-2010

,how do you change autocad drawings into something everyone can see?

Export as bmp then use Serif PhotoPlus to convert to JPG

**boldford** · 10-09-2012

Originally Posted by BillTodd

Export as bmp then use Serif PhotoPlus to convert to JPG

Or install Draftsight as a freebie.

**JAZZCNC** · 10-09-2012

Originally Posted by boldford

Or install Draftsight as a freebie.

2 year ago that mate sure he'd have found something better by now.!

**dickieto** · 19-01-2010

Originally Posted by irving2008

its the same idea that was documented here to avoid racking when usiing one leadscrew offset from centre. The neat idea here is to make it the drive mechanism too... and I've not seen that before! The great thing about this is the pulleys at each end run in the same direction and in sync, so this works as a drive mechanism. 15 or 20mm belts can take some punishment, so it could work well....

thanks once again irving.
I use to work on a machine years ago,that worked very similarly but with wire ropes, which pulled a sledge down a passage that feed cattle.
great what you think of when looking for cheaper alternatives than racks or ballscrews:naughty:
do you think that the belts would deflect(bounce) to much on travel over 8 ft?

**dickieto** · 19-01-2010

Originally Posted by Ross77

Sweet. Thats so simple, unless I'm reading it wrong. Is that in plan with the belts running through the y axis?

thanks ross

my plan is to build router that can take 8x4 sheets so the belts would run full length of table crossing over gantry to other side,both being driven by toothed gear reduced down from stepper motor then the back of the belts would go round idler then down the other side of router. Hope that kind of makes sense:confused:
I wish i could just draw a bit faster and better but am just learning autocad