There are many ways to move a part or tool from point A to point B in a straight line, including ballscrews, linear motors, and rack-and-pinion systems. But, for applications requiring high speeds, long travel lengths and high duty cycles, it’s hard to beat the cost-effectiveness of a belt-driven linear positioning system.
Compared with screw-driven systems, belt-driven systems are faster, more efficient and less expensive, particularly as travel length increases, says Jonathan Weir, manager of applications engineering at Breco Flex Co. LLC (Eatontown, NJ). On the other hand, belt-driven systems are less accurate than screw-driven systems, and their thrust capability is limited by the tensile strength of the belt.