We are often asked what the best practice is for cutting our Long Length Poly Chain GT Carbon belting. We have recommendations for not only the equipment used to properly cut the carbon fiber tensile cords with the least intrusion, but also for the location and manner in which the cut should be performed.
The location along the belt span at which the cut is made can vary slightly depending on the clamping plate system used. The best location to cut the belt would be in the span between two teeth given this results in the least material loss and decreases the likelihood of damage due to excess force. In addition, the belt can be cut from the top of the tooth though care will need to be taken to ensure significant material deformation does not occur. Finally, unless otherwise required, it is recommended to cut the belt parallel to the teeth given non-parallel cuts have the likelihood of damaging the tooth form of the belt and can cause unnecessary stress concentrations on the cut sections.
The tooling used to cut the Long Length Poly Chain GT Carbon belting at our testing lab is known as a “Guillotine Cutter”. More specifically, a Model 600 Guillotine Cutter manufactured by U.S. Mold Machine Tool Co. is utilized (http://www.usmmt.com/). The mode in which the Model 600 cutter applies the cutting force to the tensile cords within the belting is the most desirable given it is quick, has consistent forces and produces little to no heat. It is not regularly advised to use a rotary cut off saw given this produces excess stress and friction on the belt which can causes the temperature to exceed the 185°F limit and result in damage to the belt.
Though each Long length belting application is different, these guidelines should get you on your way to getting your belt properly cut to size. For any additional questions feel free to contact us at ptpasupport@gates.com or 303-744-5800.
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