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SHOP ONLINE (800) 819-8900
While standard components often meet general power transmission needs, unique challenges sometimes require a custom solution. SDP/SI offers expert engineering and precision manufacturing for custom pulley systems tailored to your exact specifications.
Our advanced facility supports a range of secondary operations and custom features, including
Whether you need a proof-of-concept prototype or high-volume production, our team delivers with precision and reliability. Our engineering specialists are available to guide you through part selection, secondary operations, and custom design — ensuring optimal performance for your application.
Contact Engineering: (516) 328-3300 Ext. 495
Let us help bring your custom pulley requirements to life with precision engineering and tailored solutions.
SDP/SI delivers precision-engineered synchronous timing belt and pulley systems tailored to OEM requirements. Our solutions include custom-machined pulleys, molded components, and innovative fastening options that ensure optimal performance across a wide range of applications.
We feature two exclusive, patented hub and fastening systems:
When designing or selecting a timing belt system, several key factors must be considered to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. The type of system—such as conveyor mechanisms, robotics, packaging machinery, or medical devices—determines baseline requirements. Environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, and potential exposure to chemicals or debris must also be evaluated, as these can influence material selection and system durability. The load characteristics, whether constant, variable, or subject to shock, along with the duty cycle—continuous or intermittent—play a crucial role in determining the system’s resilience and efficiency.
Performance specifications are equally important. This includes the maximum power transmission required (expressed in horsepower or kilowatts), torque at the pulley during both start-up and operation, rotational speed in RPM, and the weight and acceleration of the load. Compatibility with the correct timing belt is essential and involves selecting the appropriate belt type (such as HTD, GT2, AT5, T5, or XL), tooth profile, belt width, and pitch length, while also accounting for factors like backlash and required positioning accuracy. Pulley characteristics must align with the belt, including the matching tooth profile, number of teeth, pitch diameter, and pulley width. Additional considerations include the hub style (plain bore, taper-lock, or QD), bore type and size (keyed, keyless, or splined), fastening method (such as setscrews, clamps, or keyways), and the material of the pulley (aluminum, steel, plastic, or stainless steel). Finally, the presence and type of flanges—single, double, or none—should be chosen based on belt tracking needs.
Precision manufacturing superior mechanical components and custom pulley and belt drives since 1950. Over 170 machines.
Available onsite for your custom pulleys and drive assemblies, perfect for prototype and low-production runs.
Proven performance, and reliability. Send Us Your Blanks for Precision Tooth Cutting – 3/16” to 4” OD
SDP/SI is Gates’ largest timing belt processer in North America. Both stock and custom timing belt widths are expertly cut at our facility from a wide assortment of belt material inventory. Standard widths are available off-the-shelf for fast turnaround.
Enter your required center distance, pulley teeth, and belt type to output exact product options. This tool allows you to choose the correct timing belt and pulley combination, match it to a desired center distance, and get the part numbers for ordering.
How It Typically Works:
You input your desired center distance, the tooth count or diameter for Pulley 1 and Pulley 2, the belt pitch, and the belt type (e.g., HTD, GT2, XL). Based on this input, the tool outputs the recommended belt length, tensioning range, and the matching part numbers for both pulleys and belts.
Timing belts are key components of synchronous drives, featuring meshing teeth that prevent slippage and maintain a constant speed ratio between connected parts. This precision is crucial for applications requiring accurate motion or indexing, such as automatic machinery and engines.
Timing belts deliver precise motion by maintaining constant speed and fixed relative positions, making them essential for systems that require exact timing. They handle high torque and rapid acceleration, supporting performance in demanding applications. Their ability to accommodate wider spacing between components offers layout flexibility, which helps with space optimization and heat management, particularly in motor placement.
These belts are widely used in internal combustion engines to synchronize the crankshaft and camshaft, ensuring proper valve timing. In conveyor systems, they enable smooth, sequential item movement, while in robotics and automation, they maintain long-term accuracy and control. Operationally, timing belts improve efficiency by eliminating slip, reduce noise compared to chains and gears, and lower maintenance needs due to minimal stretching and reduced lubrication requirements.
We provide an extensive downloadable Technical Reference that is packed with critical resources, including:
Design Calculations
Precise formulas, example calculations, and best practices to guide engineers.
Installation Guidelines
Step-by-step instructions to ensure the correct setup and efficient integration of your drive system.
Additional Resources
Insights into selecting the right components, maintenance tips, and troubleshooting advice.
This comprehensive resource serves as a valuable tool for designing, implementing, and maintaining your drive systems, making it easier to achieve optimal performance and reliability.
Curvilinear drives offer significant advantages over traditional trapezoidal drives in terms of efficiency, performance, and durability. One of the most notable improvements is the deeper tooth profile, which enhances reliability by minimizing the risk of tooth jumping and maintaining accurate positioning. The design also results in a lighter construction, reducing centrifugal losses during operation and boosting overall efficiency. With a larger contact area between teeth, curvilinear drives experience lower unit pressure, which decreases wear and extends service life. Their larger tooth cross-section contributes to greater shear strength, allowing the system to withstand higher loads without compromising performance.
These drives also deliver cost and energy efficiency. Narrower belts are capable of handling greater loads, enabling more compact, material-saving designs and reducing overall costs. Compared to traditional "V" belt drives, curvilinear systems eliminate energy losses from slippage, resulting in improved energy efficiency. They also require lower installation tension, which leads to lighter bearing loads and helps extend the lifespan of both the drive and the bearings. Systems using curvilinear drives—particularly those featuring Gates HTD, PowerGrip® GT2, and GT3 technologies—benefit from superior load-carrying capacity, making them ideal for high-torque and demanding applications. Replacing trapezoidal belts with advanced curvilinear alternatives not only enhances performance and reduces maintenance but also drives down long-term operational costs. The ongoing innovation of the Gates PowerGrip® GT series continues to advance the standards of curvilinear drive technology.
*Registered trademark of the Gates® Rubber Company.
Pulleys:
SDP/SI is well-known for providing pulleys that perfectly mesh with the above profiles. These pulleys are critical to ensuring proper engagement with the belt teeth, which in turn ensures a smooth and efficient power transfer.
Applications:
These timing belts and pulleys are used in a wide variety of industries, including:
Are you working on a specific application, or would you like more information on a particular timing belt profile or pulley option? Our engineers are available to provide friendly, expert advice.
