morsetaper2
Diamond
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2002
- Location
- Gaithersburg, MD USA
I did a serpentine conversion on my lathe a couple years back in 2008 when they were first being disscussed here. The conversion was outstanding, you can read about it HERE. I was tired of leather and fabric belts that would slip and make turning projects take forever.
You all have seen leather belts. I tried two different leather belts many years ago. One was the same as the other. Tried a fabric belt, maybe a little better, maybe the same. Pictures of fabric belt:
My first serpentine conversion lasted 1.5 yr or so but the glue joint eventually degraded and I think I cut into the cord of the belt and it eventually failed. Don't have any pics of it. So I tried another serpentine belt, a Goodyear Gatorback belt, thinking the relief on the pulley side might make it grab better. Not much difference. The Gatorback belt was actually thicker than the "normal' serpentine belt. But the Gatorback worked well, it transmitted lots of power, but about 2 yrs later it began to fail at the joint. Honestly, I think at times I just drove it too hard. But I think if I had V-notched where the two ends meet, it would have lasted longer. Going around the pulley radius I think each end "pushed" the joint apart and over time it failed. A little clearance and V-notch would have helped I'm certain. I used plenty of glue and it seemed to be holding up well.
So I took my leather, fabric, and serpentine belt up to Baltimore Belting last Monday. He showed me what he usually specs for South Bend Lathes but I wasn't very keen on it. A rubber fabric, but not as grippy as a serpentine rubber. So I asked what he had that he could put clipper laces on similar to the serpentine belt matl. And he showed me this stuff. its a fabric-rubber composite belt w/ 3/32 layers of black grippy rubber on each side
He said its specified for pulley diams no smaller than 4". Recalling from memory, I said none of my pulleys were smaller than about 5 inches. Well I got home and the smallest pulley was 2.8" or so. Rats. Oh well. He had to order the material and it came a week later to my door. Total cost of belt was $23 or so. Here are some pics.
It seems to work just fine on the small pulley and it grips & transmits power on par w/ the serpentine belts. I'm going to take it a little easier on this one, and maybe the belt will last more than a year or two. The clipper lacing has a little piece welding to join all the individual laces together. I guess that distrubutes the load better. Make sure to not run that "hump" joint against the pulley.
Just did a quickie test. Turned .125 off the OD of a pc of 2.5" diam 1018 steel in one pass in back gear at .021 in/rev feed-rate and it did fine. So I'm happy. Not saying its the ultimate, but w/ clipper laces I like this better than the serpentine belt.
Belt material is: 1-1/4 x 2 ply 220, 3/32 x 3/32 covers (I measured it at .170 OA thickness)
Baltimore Belting in Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Belting Company Inc.
You all have seen leather belts. I tried two different leather belts many years ago. One was the same as the other. Tried a fabric belt, maybe a little better, maybe the same. Pictures of fabric belt:
My first serpentine conversion lasted 1.5 yr or so but the glue joint eventually degraded and I think I cut into the cord of the belt and it eventually failed. Don't have any pics of it. So I tried another serpentine belt, a Goodyear Gatorback belt, thinking the relief on the pulley side might make it grab better. Not much difference. The Gatorback belt was actually thicker than the "normal' serpentine belt. But the Gatorback worked well, it transmitted lots of power, but about 2 yrs later it began to fail at the joint. Honestly, I think at times I just drove it too hard. But I think if I had V-notched where the two ends meet, it would have lasted longer. Going around the pulley radius I think each end "pushed" the joint apart and over time it failed. A little clearance and V-notch would have helped I'm certain. I used plenty of glue and it seemed to be holding up well.
So I took my leather, fabric, and serpentine belt up to Baltimore Belting last Monday. He showed me what he usually specs for South Bend Lathes but I wasn't very keen on it. A rubber fabric, but not as grippy as a serpentine rubber. So I asked what he had that he could put clipper laces on similar to the serpentine belt matl. And he showed me this stuff. its a fabric-rubber composite belt w/ 3/32 layers of black grippy rubber on each side
He said its specified for pulley diams no smaller than 4". Recalling from memory, I said none of my pulleys were smaller than about 5 inches. Well I got home and the smallest pulley was 2.8" or so. Rats. Oh well. He had to order the material and it came a week later to my door. Total cost of belt was $23 or so. Here are some pics.
It seems to work just fine on the small pulley and it grips & transmits power on par w/ the serpentine belts. I'm going to take it a little easier on this one, and maybe the belt will last more than a year or two. The clipper lacing has a little piece welding to join all the individual laces together. I guess that distrubutes the load better. Make sure to not run that "hump" joint against the pulley.
Just did a quickie test. Turned .125 off the OD of a pc of 2.5" diam 1018 steel in one pass in back gear at .021 in/rev feed-rate and it did fine. So I'm happy. Not saying its the ultimate, but w/ clipper laces I like this better than the serpentine belt.
Belt material is: 1-1/4 x 2 ply 220, 3/32 x 3/32 covers (I measured it at .170 OA thickness)
Baltimore Belting in Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Belting Company Inc.