Helping out with pulley diameter calculation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the appropriate pulley diameter for a mechanical engineering problem involving a motor with a specified RPM and voltage. Participants explore the relationship between motor and driven pulley diameters to achieve a desired RPM reduction.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Mathematical reasoning, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the formula ##n_1 d_1 = n_2 d_2## to relate the motor RPM and pulley diameters, indicating that the driven pulley diameter should be 22.5 times larger than the motor pulley diameter to achieve the desired RPM.
  • Another participant notes the potential for belt slippage due to the large pulley ratio and suggests that the maximum power transmission is limited by friction and the contact angle of the belt on the pulley.
  • A further suggestion is made to consider using a toothed belt or a series of pulleys to achieve the necessary reduction more effectively, proposing a configuration of three pairs of pulleys with smaller reductions.
  • Another participant proposes alternative gear reduction ratios of 10:1 or 25:1, discussing the implications for the belt drive and suggesting that using a chain drive may offer more flexibility in adjusting the ratio.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best approach to achieve the desired RPM reduction, with no consensus on a single solution. Some suggest using larger pulley ratios while others propose alternative methods such as gear reductions or toothed belts.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the effectiveness of different pulley configurations and the potential for slippage, which may depend on specific conditions not fully explored in the thread.

Giannakoulis
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Hey guys.. Sorry for my english, i'am only 16 and it's not my parent language. I need help about a problem on mechanical engineering, and i really appreciated if you can help me out. I assume that I've got a moter currents which gives me out 220-230 Volt trend, and has 1800 bends per minute. Now i want to know how much diameter should have a pulley to put it on another machine. I want this machine to give 80 bends per minute. And what pulley should i put in the original current moter to suit them. The starting transmission from the moter will be done with a belt.. For more details or clarifications, just ask me..
 
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Hello Giannakoulis, :welcome:

Basically you have ##n_1 d_1 = n_2 d_2## (because the belt speed is the same on both pulleys). In this expression
##n_1 = ## motor rpm (revolutions per minute)
##d_1 = ## pulley diameter on motor axis
##d_2 = ## pulley diameter on driven axis
##n_2 = ## driven axis rpm​

In your case you have ##n_1/n_2 = 22.5## so you want ##\ \ \ \ \ ## pulley diameter on driven axis = 22.5 times pulley diameter on motor axis
 
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thanks a lot!
 
BvU said:
In your case you have n1/n2=22.5n1/n2=22.5n_1/n_2 = 22.5 so you want pulley diameter on driven axis = 22.5 times pulley diameter on motor axis

That is a large ratio. It is possible that the belt will slip on the small pulley. The maximum power you can transmit is limited by friction and the "contact angle" (how far around the pulley the belt wraps). You might need to use a toothed belt?
 
CWatters said:
That is a large ratio. It is possible that the belt will slip on the small pulley. The maximum power you can transmit is limited by friction and the "contact angle" (how far around the pulley the belt wraps). You might need to use a toothed belt?
Or a series of pulleys with a smaller reduction in each. If my maths is right three pairs with a reduction of 3, 3 and 2.5 gets you 22.5:1.
 
I would probably look at a 10:1 or 25:1 gear reduction.. with the 10:1 reduction you'd need a 2.25:1 belt drive (2" to 4.5" or so), and with the 25:1 the driven pulley would have to be just a bit smaller than the motor pulley.. If you use a chain drive from the gear to the machine, you can adjust the ratio there as well (may be easier and more accurate than changing pulley sizes)
 

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