Round belts are soft rubber devices used in low torque applications, designed to run in a V-groove for optimal friction and grip. They are often used in power tools and appliances, and can be resized by cutting and joining the ends together. The rubber’s tackiness when heated makes it a good choice for use on a lathe or drill motor. A V-shaped pulley is recommended for use with round belts, but U-groove pulleys can also be used.
A round belt is a soft rubber device used in low torque applications. Resembling a rubber O-ring, the round belt is designed to run in a 60-degree V-groove for optimal friction and grip. The often elastic qualities of the round belt contribute to the lack of need for a tensioner pulley in most applications. The size of the round belt can be changed by cutting the belt and joining the two ends together using a variety of methods.
Many styles of round belts are often used in power tools, such as motors for electric drills, milling machines and lathes. A round belt is also commonly found in vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances and limited automotive uses. Designed to provide optimum grip in a low torque application, the round belt is also widely used in applications where belt twist is required, such as two crossed idler shafts.
Unlike a typical V-belt commonly referred to as a fan belt, the rubber used to manufacture round belts is very soft and flexible. This soft texture allowed the belts to be tensioned around two pulleys or shafts and driven without the aid of a tensioner pulley. Rubber’s tendency to get even tackier, therefore providing more grip as it heats up due to the friction caused by less slippage, makes this belt a good choice to use on a lathe or drill motor.
While the round shape of the belt fits perfectly on a U-groove pulley, the optimum shape of a pulley when using a round belt is a V-shaped pulley. Also, a 60 degree V is commonly recommended for use with the round shape belt. The U-groove pulley is typically resigned to driving non-critical pulleys or pulley drive systems. Occasionally, a U-groove pulley will be used with the softer rubber belts as the U-groove has the maximum contact surface area for the adhesive belt and slippage is typically not an issue.
One advantage a round belt has over a typical V-belt is its ability to be resized by cutting and trimming away the material. The rubber is cut and as much is removed as needed to make the belt the correct length. The two ends of the trimmed ribbon are reconnected using various methods, including gluing, fusing and stapling. When gluing a belt, it is imperative that you use a fast-setting glue, such as contact cement, to re-adhere the ends of the belt.
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