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A few thoughts...

By "roller chain" I am assuming you mean like bicycle chain.  The
biggest difference would be cost. Roller chain is going to cost more.
But if the belts snap fairly often then after a few replacements you may
have equalled the cost of chain.

Timing belts have some elasticity so they can be more forgiving when
things get out of wack.  If you can get by without the pulleys having to
be super tight the fact that the teeth can slip can take the place of a
slip clutch so that when something jams up the visitor will not just
crank 'till it snaps.

Belts generally are supplied in set sizes that you must design to.
Chain can always be made a link or two longer or shorter as needed. But
even if you buy pre-sized chain go ahead and invest in a chain tool.

Noise might be another factor to consider.  Chain loud vs belt quiet.


Erich Rose
Exhibit Manager
Austin Children's Museum
201 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701
512-472-2499 ext 207
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Yuan
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Timing Belt vs Roller Chain

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****

Hello,

I'm designing a hand-powered exhibit and I'd like to know if there are
advantages of using a "timing belt" over a "roller chain".

Perhaps there are differences in maintenance and wear, friction, maximum
distance between shafts, price?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Eric

*****************************************
Eric Yuan
Exhibit Developer
Children's Museum of Portsmouth
280 Marcy Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-3853
www.childrens-museum.org
*****************************************

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