How Can a Custom Timing Belt Optimize a Machine?

In conjunction with timing belt pulleys, timing belts work to create a continuous, non-slip transmission of movement. This helps to get critical materials from "Point A" to "Point B" and beyond in the most efficient way possible, all so that your business and its employees can continue to create crucial items that will eventually serve your clients.

In many situations, you may feel like it's okay to leverage stock or off-the-shelf timing belts for the machines that you're using on a daily basis. While this may work in a very basic, technical sense, it's typically not the right direction to go in when it comes to the larger matter of productivity.

Indeed, a custom timing belt won't just allow a piece of machinery to perform - it can optimize it and allow it to finally function in a peak condition moving forward. This is true for a number of essential reasons, all of which are more than worth a closer look.

Benefits of a Custom Timing Belt

One of the major reasons why you can benefit from a custom timing belt comes down to just how important they are to your equipment in the first place.

If you use an off-the-shelf timing belt that works "well enough" but that doesn't quite fit the needs of your equipment, a few things can happen fairly quickly. Not only does this have the potential to damage your actual machinery, but it could also make the entire environment unsafe for employees as well. There's too much that can go wrong too quickly to leave things to chance.

You need to know that your timing belt is going to perform at the highest level possible. You need to act with complete confidence knowing that your needs are taken care of. Rather than purchasing some stock timing belt and hoping it works, you can purchase a custom option and rest easy knowing that you don't have anything to worry about.

Why Might you Need a Custom Timing Belt

One of the major reasons why you might need a custom timing belt comes down to experiencing signs that your existing belts are faulty.

If you're hearing clicking sounds from the engine, for example, this could be a sign that the timing belt is in the process of wearing out. To a certain degree, this is natural - but if it's happening frequently or unexpectedly, it could be an indication that a custom solution is in order.

Another situation where you may need a custom timing belt involves instances where your equipment's RPMs are much higher than normal. If your revolutions per minute are spiking and you just can't quite figure out why, the timing belt may be the issue.

Of course, there are a wide range of additional benefits to custom timing belts, too. Keep in mind that you're talking about a solution that has been custom-built with your unique requirements in mind from the ground up. That means minimal noise during the option of your machinery, along with minimal vibrations. That means precise motion with accurate timing - which is a large part of what a timing belt is supposed to do in the first place.

The more efficient your timing belt is, the less unexpected maintenance you'll have to worry about - allowing you to achieve the highest possible return on investment for your equipment.

You'll be able to virtually guarantee a consistent velocity ratio when in operation, almost no slippage to speak of, and an incredibly high mechanical efficiency. When you also consider that custom timing belts tend to be more resistant to issues like abrasion and rust and that they're inherently energy efficient, you truly are looking at a perfect storm in the best possible way.

Choosing the Right Material

When it comes to the actual material that you choose for your custom timing belt, there are a few key options available to you.

The first of those is neoprene, which is a type of fiberglass that is often used for these purposes. The benefit of this is that it is highly UV resistant in nature. Because of that, it tends to have a longer lifespan than other options that may be available. Neoprene also has significant chemical resistance, thus making it ideal for applications that depend on exceptional durability across the board.

Another option is urethane. Custom timing belts made from this type of material bring with them the major advantage of a low elongation rate. They also have a high amount of tensile strength, allowing them to stand up to just about anything - including harsh temperatures like periods of extreme heat or cold.

There are other options available as well. Urethane/polyester combination timing belts are always something that you could explore, as are urethane/Kevlar timing belts. These solutions tend to have shock resistance that is much higher than alternative materials, which means that they're more flexible and ultimately more durable in a wider range of scenarios.

Custom Timing Belt Manufacturer

At Illinois Pulley & Gear, we have years of experience producing made-to-order timing belts for customers that meet their exact specifications from the ground up. It doesn't matter how strict your requirements are, what machinery you're working with, or what you're hoping to accomplish - through our expertise, our access to the best materials, and via the spirit of innovation that runs through our company, we have what it takes to meet your needs and exceed your expectations each and every time we have the honor of doing so.

If you'd like to find out more information about the myriad of different ways in which a custom timing belt can optimize a critical piece of machinery for your business, or if you'd just like to find out more information about all the other services that we offer, please don't delay - contact the team at Illinois Pulley & Gear today.