Technical Tips
How to square a belt?
Squaring Belt Ends
For The Application Of Flexco® & Alligator® Belt Fasteners
Squaring your belt ends is a job that requires only a few minutes of your time and offers real paybacks in extending your belt splice life. A splice that is applied on a belt that is properly squared will have the tension evenly distributed across the splice. Properly squared splices are essential to good belt training.
The following steps will help ensure that your belt is properly squared.
Step 1
Prior to any work on your conveyors, make certain that the power has been turned off and the belt is "locked out." Follow other safety precautions outlined in the operator's manual. |
Step 2
Mark the actual center points in belt width at intervals of 3 to 5 feet, for a distance back from the intended splice area of 15 to 20 feet. |
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Step 3
Using either a steel rule or a chalk line, mark the average center line through the points measured from Step 2. |
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Step 4
Using a square, draw a line perpendicular to your average center line across the belt width. |
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Step 5
For even greater accuracy in preparing your squaring line and with belts with worn edges, after completion of step three, mark two lines (B&C) equal distance from the center line in the area where you are going to install the splice, running parallel to the center line. |
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Step 6
Measure back from the intended splice area a distance equal to approximately three times the belt width and drive a nail or awl at this point on the center line. Using the nail or awl as a pivot point, swing an arc, marking the belt across the full width. |
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Step 7
Where this arc intersects the two smaller lines marked parallel to the average belt center, align a steel rule through these points. The resulting line is the true square. |
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Step 8
Mark this line and cut your belt at this line using the 840 or 845 Belt Cutter.
Preparing belt for a 45° angle Flexco® splice*
- Determine average center line for both belt ends.
- Square one end of belt as described above.
- Cut squared belt end on 45° angle.
- To cut other belt end accurately on 45° angle, lay end that has already been cut on the uncut end. Make sure that center lines match up and are straight.
- Use the 45° cut belt end as a guide for cutting off the other end of the belt.
*Only use 45° splices with FLexco® Bolt Solid Plate Fasteners.
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