Belt Tension Options

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Belt Tension Options

Postby flickerfly » Sat Sep 07, 2013 4:23 pm

I'm continuing to try to track down a problem where thing Ord Bot won't print circles. I'm looking for information on belt tensioning as a potential issue with this. My current best tensioning method is to loosen the pulley real good and then push it's mount out as far as I can and tighten it down. Then tighten the pulley again until it is in an appropriately right-angled position to the plate.

I've heard the belts should be like guitar strings. They do bounce back to position and resist being pulled away, but they don't twang. What does that really mean?

Do you have a better belt tensioning method?
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby blah_59 » Sat Sep 07, 2013 6:52 pm

I don't know if this is the best way but it's what I do:

1) Loosen the mounting plate
2) Then put a small wrench under/behind the mounting plate, between the end of the extrusion and the screw/nut holding the idler pulley
3) Use the wrench as a lever to tighten the belt appropriately tight
4) Tighten the screw on the mounting plate to hold it in place

If someone has a better method or more info on what tightness is "appropriate", I would be interested as well :)
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby flickerfly » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:57 pm

Yeah, that sounds a lot like what I do. Have you had any trouble with non-round circles.
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby cozmicray » Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:24 am

Check your belt anchor,
I had to put a screw thru ends to keep belt tight in block.
Does X, Y move at all is pushed back and forth by hand.

Also check steps/mm in settings for X, Y axes.

:D
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby flurin » Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:32 pm

flickerfly wrote:I'm continuing to try to track down a problem where thing Ord Bot won't print circles. I'm looking for information on belt tensioning as a potential issue with this.


I solved the belt tensioning "issue" using this bracket:

Bracket.jpg


http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:43324
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby flickerfly » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:37 pm

flurin, what's going on inside that? What is it pushing against?
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby flurin » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:00 pm

flickerfly wrote:flurin, what's going on inside that? What is it pushing against?


IdlerPulleyBracket2.JPG


The two M4 x 16mm Screws push against the foot and this way you can tension the belt.

More details on Thingiverse
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby Digitalmagic » Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:56 am

flurin wrote:I solved the belt tensioning "issue" using this bracket: ... http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:43324
Did you compare ABS and PLA ?

I got the same issue, and resolved it by tensioning the belt strongly, and checking that the bed was rigidly constrained to Y axis movement (fastening nuts and bolts).
By the way, I used GT2 belt instead of MXL, for a better strength and precision. Teeth are trapezoidal instead of rounded.
Human has 20 nail ... extruders.
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby flickerfly » Tue Sep 17, 2013 12:53 pm

My problem was with the grip that the belt clamps had on the belt. I thought I had solved it during the build I saw it would be a problem and had been looking at everything else, but the material I wedged in there had compressed enough to allow the belt wiggle room. I disassembled and used something that I believe won't compress for now.

Anyone have a favorite belt clamp thing? I probably should print some replacements for next time.
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Re: Belt Tension Options

Postby cvoinescu » Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:22 pm

Digitalmagic wrote:By the way, I used GT2 belt instead of MXL, for a better strength and precision. Teeth are trapezoidal instead of rounded.


The other way round. GT2 belt has rounded teeth, MXL is trapezoidal. But yes, GT2 is better in this application.
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