Help with Belt Drive

[armadrillo]

I have got 5m of 6mm round belt and pulleys to use as drive for my spinning drum weapon on my feather.

Ive cut the belt to the required length but am having trouble joining the 2 ends together. At folkestone last year i was speaking to a member of the Scorpian team who said the best way to do it is to heat both ends with a soldering iron and press together.

I have tried this but with not much success. Any ideas?

Also is it best to have a tensioner between the 2 pulley?

Cheers
Glen

Hiya Glen,

I use the same belts for my drive on KR2, and was also told to use a soldering iron etc to bond em. I didnt have much luck that way, but i had better luck using a naked flame. I asked mum to light and hold the lighter while i held both ends over the naked flame. I did it until i saw both ends start to bubble, (takes about hmm 3 seconds) then pressed both ends together with both my hands, held for at least 60 seconds, and both belts have never snapped etdc and been fine for over 6 months so far and no signs of breaking.

Mr Stu

[dragonmaster_1]

Hiya Glen,
I use the same belt on dragonstrike to drive my bar weapon from a EV Warrior. I used the soldering iron method and after a bit of practice I found the best way to do it was to put the iron in a clamp, which gives you both hands free so when the ends of the belt starts to bubble you just move them up of the iron pushing them together at the same time. then as Stu said hold them for at least 60 seconds.
Tony.

Well, I was just about to reply, but it looks like its all been covered

Ok. Cheers guys. Ill try again

What about the tensioner?

The 2 pulleys are 54mm diameter and are only 100mm to the centers apart. Would a tensioner gain anything?

Cheers

The belts DO stretch, a light Spring sort of tensioner which keeps tention on it would be a good idea, though Scorpion JNR never had any major trouble with it, also i think they took the belts off when its not in use to make sure it dont stretch much. But also after a few events, im sure you can just cut and shorten the belt. But a spring tentioner would be a good idea.

Mr Stu