Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Timing Belts vs. Rack and Pinion drive

Terry:

The only experiences that I have had with using timing belts have been good
ones. These are limited to using the belts as a drive connection between a
servo motor and lead screw on one application and doing what you are
suggesting with a belt actually driving the positioning. On the later, we
had a "fence" or positoning bar that needed to be moved very rapidly and
fairly accurately. We used an Emerson Brushless DC drive system and attached
the timing belt directly to the fence. Positioning accuracy was around .005"
or so. This would not work for detail milling or cutting but if you can live
with that then the belt is a lot less expensive than rack and pinion, which
by the way isn't all that accurate either. If you are looking for very
accurate positioning then a no backlash ball and screw drive is the way to go.

Hope this helps,

Randy A.