Designing a flat belt drive
We’ll give you all the guidance you’ll need for designing this engineering component.
The video leads you through the process with opportunities to do calculations yourself involving belt tensions, rope around a bollard, traction forces and efficiency. In the end you will find the required tension and determine the implications for efficiency of transmission.
It might help if you download the design specification in the Downloads section below in case you want to refer to it as you go.
If you just watch the video it will take about 11 minutes. If you take the opportunity to do calculations it will take longer; it’s hard to say how much longer because it depends on so many factors, but allow a total of 40 minutes.
If you are stuck (or even if you aren’t) you might like to look at the worked solution that is available from the Downloads section.
Talking points
- How did this work for you?
- Did you like using the equation for ratio of tensions around a pulley?
Through Engineers' Eyes: Engineering Mechanics by Experiment, Analysis and Design
Through Engineers' Eyes: Engineering Mechanics by Experiment, Analysis and Design
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