1 Topic by IanJohnson

  • IanJohnson
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Topic: Belt Tension Gauge

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:38952

http://thingiverse-production.s3.amazonaws.com/renders/bd/5e/7a/29/5e/IMG_5866_display_medium.jpg

A gauge to check the tension of the Y belts to make sure they are equal, and to provide an objective measure of tension.  Load it up with quarters and hang it from the middle of the upper belt, then count the number of 1mm notches between them.  You want enough quarters to get a reasonable amount of deflection, but not so many that it bottoms out.

2 Reply by caswal

  • caswal
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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

Pretty neat and simple idea. I really like it, will use it over the next week as I am bit paranoid the Y axis is a little out.

I have also been thinking about something more automatic for belt tensioning, you can even use something really simple like this:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_F0i917zfySk/SwrO50GEmoI/AAAAAAAABHk/bL05FzopdmE/s1600/tension.jpg

But you still need to initially calibrate it.

Lead Programmer & Co-Owner of Camshaft Software - Creators of Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game

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3 Reply by nickythegreek

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

slic3r .97 wont output this without adding in solid layers where there shouldnt be. I really need to get a backup slicer app going!

4 Reply by IanJohnson

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

I used KISSlicer for it.  You could try it with Slic3r 093.  I think that seems to be the most recent version other than 097 with decent results.

5 Reply by nickythegreek (edited by nickythegreek 2012-12-23 15:34:48)

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

I wonder if I can run both versions simultaneously on mac or not.

edit: just filed out the 2 extra layers slic3r put in, looks nice Ian!

6 Reply by wire10ga

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

thanks Ian

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7 Reply by timp610

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

so whats a good amount of quarters to put in this?  Also whats a good tension for the belts so we can compare to ours?

Thanks Ian you have helped so many of us out a ton!

8 Reply by devilman2075

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

It isn't so much like your looking for a certain tension.  What you do want is tension to be equal

9 Reply by adrian (edited by adrian 2013-04-27 03:31:35)

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

As commented over on Thingiverse - for any Australians  - if you scale this print up 17.5% (making it 1.175 in Repetier-Host for example) it will be a perfect fit for Australian $0.50 coins. They more or less 'click' in and on my printed copy don't come out very easily. I used about 10 coins and it gave it a good weight.

Excuse the horriffic banding - I hadn't reset the z-wobble calibration and my table movement is getting worse by the day (waiting on USPS delivery of replacement Alu platform )

Also did this with Slic3r 0.9.9 btw..

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8543/8684178313_4d1a502c0e_z.jpg

10 Reply by Briggs

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Re: Belt Tension Gauge

Just saw this post, awesome Ian. I'm totally printing these out.