Gear Track 1

[Jokenda]

I am thinking of using Gear Track to transport a trolley in conjunction with Steel Tubing. I have had experience with large applications but the scale I am working with is much smaller.

The distance of travel is 6'.
the size of the tubing can be 0.5 to 1" O.D.
Duration of forward travel 5 seconds
Duration of return travel 1 second

Is this achievable?

The only gear track I have located is Flat Mount. I would like a concave mount if available, I do not wish to have the cost of milling to fit track to rail.

A list of suppliers would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Jokenda

 

[Occupant]

If you use constant acceleration and divide total travel time(return) into thirds, you'll wind up with <1*g. That doesn't seem to be excessive.
Check this

 

[williedawg]

Depending on requirements (accuracy, transmitted torque, size, tolerances in assembly, available facilities to fabricate needed parts, etc);
you could also use a chain (#35 or #41 for instance) and a suitable sprocket. The ends would have to be "anchored" in some fashion to the tube on each end; but would save you the trouble of drilling/tapping holes to attach a rack....although what you have proposed may work without going to the trouble of machining the rack to fit the tube....just bolt it on.
The chain would conform nicely to the tubing surface. (I'm envisioning the chain sitting atop the tube and the sprocket above the chain)

Another idea is to use a Positive Drive belt and (2) pulleys. The belt would form an "S" path over the pulleys; with one pulley having teeth and being powered, the other being an idler without teeth on the back-side of the belt.
As for the chain, the belt would need to be anchored to the tube ends.

 

[Jokenda]

I may have left out some important data.

Duty cycle is roughly 6 seconds, 5 seconds forward and 1 sec return.

# of duty cycles posible per hour is 200 to 300.

rest time between duty 5 to 20 seconds.

possible # duty cycles per month 50,000 to 100,000