V-Guides
To assure positive tracking within operational standards it is sometimes necessary to use a V-guide.
| Domestic
Size Designation |
Nearest
European Size Designation |
Dimensions
Domestic/Metric |
Generally add these amounts to the Minimum Pulley Diameter of the
base belt, (back bends and others circumstances may increase the addition), Check with the Factory. |
|
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
Standard |
Notched |
| inch |
millimeter |
inch |
millimeter |
inch |
millimeter |
inch |
inch |
| OOO |
K6 |
0.250 |
6.0 |
0.156 |
4.0 |
0.156 |
4.0 |
0.500 |
0.500 |
| Z |
K8 |
0.313 |
8.0 |
0.188 |
5.0 |
0.188 |
4.0 |
1.750 |
0.750 |
| O |
K10 |
0.375 |
10.0 |
0.250 |
6.0 |
0.250 |
5.0 |
2.50 |
1.000 |
| A |
K13 |
0.500 |
13.0 |
0.313 |
8.0 |
0.313 |
6.0 |
3.000 |
1.500 |
| N/A |
K15 |
N/A |
15.0 |
N/A |
8.0 |
N/A |
9.5 |
3.500 |
2.000 |
| B |
K17 |
0.625 |
17.0 |
0.375 |
11.0 |
0.375 |
9.5 |
5.000 |
2.50 |
| C |
K22 |
0.938 |
22.0 |
0.438 |
15.0 |
0.625 |
11.0 |
6.000 |
3.500 |
| N/A |
K30 |
N/A |
30.0 |
N/A |
18.0 |
N/A |
13.0 |
8.000 |
5.000 |
| THE PULLEYS,
CONVEYOR BED AND OR IDLER ROLLERS SHOULD BE GROOVED 1/4 INCH WIDER AND 1/16 INCH DEEPER
THAN THE SIZE OF THE ADDED V-GUIDE. |
Frequently Asked Questions
If I use v-guides with my belting, will it guarantee I will not have tracking problems?
NO! Just because you use v-guides, it does not mean you don't have to follow other acceptable practices when designing and building your system. You should strive to have a system and belt that will track by normal means of steering a belt and use the v-guide system to further ensure trackability.
IDoes a v-guide fabricated belt require a larger pulley (diameter) than a non-v-guided belt?
Yes. In general a larger pulley is required when you use a v-guide in conjunction with the belt. A notched v-guide or special segmented urethane v-guide will work on smaller diameter pulleys than standard v-guides. Consult our Office or a Territory Representative for recommended pulley diameters for various belts and v-guides.
If one v-guide is good, are two v-guides better?
While it seems logical, it isn't always the case. Sometimes the combination of the belt and the system requires two, small v-guides the will steer the belt and still flex around the pulleys (versus one larger v-guide that would have difficulty flexing around the pulleys). However, if the v-guides are not placed on the belting with extreme care, you could end up with a situation where the two v-guides are actually working against each other. This can cause premature failure of the v-guides and can cause the guides to lift out of the grooves they are intended to ride in.
We recommend that the v-guide be applied to the center line of the base belt; however, in unusual circumstances, it can be fused off-center. We do NOT recommend the use of more than one v-guide on the pulley surface for tracking purposes. Also, v-guides are meant only to improve tracking...not to drive the belt. Grooves required in pulleys and slider beds to accommodate v-guides must be manufactured both 1/4 inch wider and 1/16 inch deeper than the v-guide size selected to allow for sufficient "play".
