Unlocking the secrets of SolidWorks Unlocking the secrets of SolidWorks

Belt/Chain
Belt/Chain
Assembly Feature
Assembly Feature
SolidWorks has the
ability to create a
belt or chain to work
with a system of
gears or pulleys.
Belt/Chain
Belt/Chain
Assembly Feature
Assembly Feature
Use the Belt/Chain
assembly feature
to model systems of
belts and pulleys or
chains and
sprockets.

Belt/Chain feature creates:
Belt/Chain feature creates:
Belt mates to constrain the relative rotation
of the pulley components.
A sketch containing a closed chain of arcs
and lines describing the path of the belt.

Belt/Chain Dialog Box
Belt/Chain Dialog Box
Select Pulleys
Select Belt Length
Driving Checkbox
Engage Belt Checkbox
Create Belt Part Checkbox

Select Pulleys
Select Pulleys

Select Belt Length
Select Belt Length
SolidWorks automatically
calculates belt length
Checking Drivingbox
allows for choosing a
length
Slack in belt will be
automatically taken up by
tensioner pulley

Engage Belt
Engage Belt
Engaged belt will drive all
pulleys
SolidWorks automatically
creates mates to rotate
pulleys at the correct rates

Create Belt Part
Create Belt Part
Check Create Belt Partto
make a part from the belt
sketch
Belt part can be edited to
create a solid from the
sketch

Creating
Creating
Solid Belt
Solid Belt
Belt sketch
can be
extruded to
make a
solid belt

Extrude
Extrude
Extruding in
one direction
with a thin
feature
creates the
desired belt
shape

Finished Product
Finished Product