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Timing belt calculator

Size a synchronous (timing) belt drive: pick the profile and pulley teeth, and get the belt in teeth, the exact centre distance and the teeth in mesh.

How to use it

  1. Choose the profile and pitch (e.g. HTD 8M).
  2. Enter the teeth on both pulleys and an approximate centre distance.
  3. Read the belt length in teeth, the exact centre distance for that belt and check at least 6 teeth are in mesh.

Questions

How do I find timing belt length?

Pitch diameter = pitch × teeth ÷ π for each pulley; the open-belt formula then gives the pitch length, which is rounded to a whole number of belt teeth × pitch. The calculator then works back to the exact centre distance.

How many teeth must be in mesh?

At least 6 teeth on the small pulley, or the belt can jump teeth under load. Use a bigger small pulley or a longer centre distance if you have fewer.

Read the full guideTiming belt calculator → belt-types.html

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