Timing Belt Selection Using Visual Basic

Timing belts are used in many different machine applications. The sizing and selection of an appropriate timing belt and its components is usually done with a belt manufactures catalog. The catalog gives the necessary equations, figures, charts, and tables in order to select a complete timing belt system. This program replaces the manufactures catalog and allows the user to properly size a belt drive system and select all the relevant components using the computer. The program is written in visual basic. Visual basic was selected because of the windows environment in which most users would feel comfortable using. Also, figures and pictures can be inserted to enhance the capabilities of the program and allow the user to visualize and understand the process and procedure of selecting a belt system. The user will go through the program inputting values into text boxes, initiating events by clicking on command buttons and using list boxes to select different components. The user is prompted to input horsepower, speed requirements, shaft diameters, and center distance between pulleys. Since the program supports figures and tables, the user can look up values required directly on the screen. The belt pitch is selected based on design horsepower and pulley speed. The user can simply select the required belt pitch based on the graph shown. The program will calculate and display the belt and pulley combinations based on input values of the center distance and pulley ratio. The belt width is determined based on input values of horsepower, pulley size, and pulley speed. The program guides the user through the selection procedure outputting a complete belt drive system. The complete belt drive system consists of the following output. Two pulleys required to match the speed ratio. The corresponding bushing that goes with the pulleys to hold them to the shaft, the key size required with for bushing and shaft size. The selected belt pitch and belt width required for the design horsepower and speed is also displayed. The final output is the belt length required to maintain the center distance between the two pulleys. The program simplifies the process of selecting and sizing a complete belt drive system. The user can make changes to different input values quickly and easily to modify the output to the desired results. P ge 568.1