Widebelt sander tensioning
Widebelt sander tensioning
(OP)
Hi All,
Right now I am in the process of designing a wide belt sander and I have an idea that I would like to get some opinions on.
For starters I plan on using three air cylinders for the upper idler drum.
One in the middle that will push the drum upwards with stops on both ends. This will take up most of the slack in the belt and will not move once it is fully engaged. The remaining belt tension will be handled by the other two cylinders, one on each end of the shaft. Tracking can be adjusted by increasing air pressure on one side or the other.
In theory "I think" it should work but in the real world it may not as control valveing may not be adequate.
I would like to get some opinions.
Thanks
Right now I am in the process of designing a wide belt sander and I have an idea that I would like to get some opinions on.
For starters I plan on using three air cylinders for the upper idler drum.
One in the middle that will push the drum upwards with stops on both ends. This will take up most of the slack in the belt and will not move once it is fully engaged. The remaining belt tension will be handled by the other two cylinders, one on each end of the shaft. Tracking can be adjusted by increasing air pressure on one side or the other.
In theory "I think" it should work but in the real world it may not as control valveing may not be adequate.
I would like to get some opinions.
Thanks





RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
So, you need wedges or micrometers, not direct acting air cylinders, for the tilt.
I think.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
While this is only 4'' wide - it may be possible to scale it up for your application. You don't say how wide is wide. Craftsmen says this is a wide belt??
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
http://www.timesaversinc.com/metal.php
I've seen 'em up close, but not disassembled, so I don't know exactly what they do for belt tracking.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4021970.html
We have 4 96" wide crown rolls on a non-woven fabric system with the tension controlled by a Rotac.
http://www.rotachydroac.com/index.asp
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
Two points are sufficient to fully define a line.
Three cylinders will result in an unstable system as any time one cylinder makes and adjustment the other two will respond.
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
RE: Widebelt sander tensioning
I'm planning on an 18" wide belt. The center cylinder will push the entire unit up until it hits the stops. The pressure in this cylinder will be far beyond the two outer cylinders so the frame will not move. That way the outer two cylinders can apply the proper tensioning for the belt and also allow for alignment of the drum. For the sake of argument, let's omit the third cylinder. So my question is with two cylinders on the axel, will it be possible to micro adjust the cylinders in order the correctly position the drums axis???
Almost all of the machines that I have looked at use a single center cylinder for tensioning and use another cylinder to control the oscillation. Tracking is less of an issue in theses machines as they want the belt to drift and they use an electronic eye to monitor belt position. My plan is to move the drum assembly latterly instead of just the belt.
Thanks again!!!