Hey guys,
How do you calculate the length of tread needed for a setup like the climbing one in the picture below? I am using timing belts and pulleys as the actual tread and I am not sure how long of a belt I should buy? Anyone have any methods of finding this out?
Thanks
The belts wrap portions of the circumference of the pulleys. The angles between the pulleys determine how much of the circumference.
Two simple, same sized pulleys connected by a belt will have a total of one circumference and twice the center-to-center distance between the pulleys.
Belts always “leave” a pulley a perpendicular to the center of the pulley.
Make an accurate an accurate drawing with the angles worked out.
HTH
Alan
There are some tricks to get a close estimate for the length. But in the real world you may need to make one axis adjustable so you can change the tension. As Alan has stated, with a standard two wheel set up it’s easy. Double the length of the wheelbase and add one circumference and that’s the length. I believe with the three pivot point layout you can measure the straight parts and also add one circumference, assuming all sprockets are the same size.
Ok thank you very much! I’ll post a sketch of the dimensions as soon as I get some time. How would you find the top speed a tracked vehicle would go?
I think there is a calculator on either this forum or the LM web site.
Circumference * rotational speed of driving pulley.
Pi * D * speed.
Alan KM6VV
