Where do you get gears, pulleys, belts, etc?

[DaOld Man]

For my rotating monitor project, I will need some sort of a drive, (chain, belt, gears).
I havent decided yet what i am going to use. I am studying the projects on this board.
I was wondering where is a good place to buy such things as sprockets and chains, pulleys and belts?
It would be nice if it was a walk in store so I could see the real thing before I buy.
(I have got many fresh ideas from just window shopping).
Thanks.

[csa3d]

For my rotating monitor project, I will need some sort of a drive, (chain, belt, gears).
I havent decided yet what i am going to use. I am studying the projects on this board.
I was wondering where is a good place to buy such things as sprockets and chains, pulleys and belts?
It would be nice if it was a walk in store so I could see the real thing before I buy.
(I have got many fresh ideas from just window shopping).
Thanks.

Check out Grainger.com.  I was directed here by Edge a while back.  I used to have the pages with the gears and belts bookmarked, but the URLS have since changed.  I have not ordered from them, so I cannot comment on any of that personally.

-csa

[XyloSesame]

Also check out SDPSI. I haven't ordered from them, but was impressed with their catalog (syncromesh cable pulleys, etc)

[Ken Layton]

www.mcmaster.com

[bfauska]

www.mcmaster.com

Would be my first reccomendation too.  We order from them about once a week here at work, and the service has been great.

I would also recommend Grainger, and you may want to look and see if they have a location local to you.  We order from them at work also, mostly when we need to be able to pick up the part today.

[koz319]

http://www.Emotorstore.com has an OK selection of sheaves,pulleys, and vbelts.  Don't even bother looking at their motors tho...   Mcmaster and Grainger are pretty much the standard.

Koz

[SavannahLion]

www.mcmaster.com

Would be my first reccomendation too.  We order from them about once a week here at work, and the service has been great.

I would also recommend Grainger, and you may want to look and see if they have a location local to you.  We order from them at work also, mostly when we need to be able to pick up the part today.

Are they like Happs where they prefer to deal with business instead of individuals?

[DaOld Man]

Thanks for all the input guys!
Looks like most of the parts are pretty expensive. I would expect that from industrial suppliers.
I was reading some posts and someone had an idea of cutting a pulley out of wood.
I cant remember who said it, and I cant find the post, so I cant give proper credit.
But it seemed like a good idea. Maybe rig up a router to cut a 1/4" grove in the edge of a 3/4" round piece of mdf. A 1/4" belt would ride in the groove.
Also someone mentioned using a piece of bicycle chain attached to the edge of a wood disc, then have a sprocket run along it. (Actually the sprocket would push the chain, which would turn the disc).
Its not that Im a tightwad (Ok, I am), but I would like to go as cheap as possible, so others on a budget can do the same.

[solderguy1]

Its not that Im a tightwad (Ok, I am), but I would like to go as cheap as possible, so others on a budget can do the same.

Nothing wrong with that, I'm still thinking of attaching a spool of fishing line to a Big Lots battery powered screwdriver (the cheapest two-direction high torque motor around).

Picked up a $7 caster at Orchard Supply last week.  unscrewed the axel bolt and removed the wheel, it looks like a 2x4 can be bolted there instead.  Then the baseplate can be joined to the lcd monitor by using another board in between.

[bfauska]

Are they like Happs where they prefer to deal with business instead of individuals?

I Have done walk-in purchases at Grainger before with no issues.  I also think that McMaster would be OK.  They post prices on their websites so they don't show any preferential treatment for pricing if you're a business.  We DO have an account with them, but I think they take cards too.

[Kremmit]

I've ordered from McMaster before and everything worked out wonderfully.  The toughest part was locating the part# for the item I wanted.

Thanks for the tip about Grainger; I drive past a Grainger warehouse every day, I had no idea what business they were in.  I'll have to check that out next time I need some random goodies.

[DaOld Man]

Picked up a $7 caster at Orchard Supply last week.  unscrewed the axel bolt and removed the wheel, it looks like a 2x4 can be bolted there instead.  Then the baseplate can be joined to the lcd monitor by using another board in between.

That sounds interesting.. Got any drawings? (Or pics).

[koz319]

What size is the shaft of your motor?  Some of the single groove v-belt sheaves at Grainger & Mcmaster aren't too expensive, depends on the bore diameter and outside diameter.

Here's a 5/8 bore, 3" outside diameter for $5.19, is this the type of thing you are looking for?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3X904

Mcmaster has a similar part #   6245K29 for $4.80

These are very similar to what I use.

Koz

[DaOld Man]

That might work for the pulley that will mount to the monitor section.
The motors I have look like both have 3/8" dia shafts. (I will need to drag out my micrometer to confirm that.)
One motor has a very short shaft, the other about 3/4".
And the motors have mounting tabs that will limit the diameter of the pulley.
I will most likely have to have an adapter machined, and I wanted to stay away from that, because this is a "roll your own" project. (I dont have the machines to do it.)
I was thinking of using a flat type belt, like servo and stepper motors use.
I was also entertaining the idea of mounting a bicycle chain around the outside circumference of a wood disk, then have a small sprocket mounted to the motor, pushing the chain. But chains need oil, and I dont want oil inside my box.

[bfauska]

Many chains are coated to inhibit rust, if you use a dry lube like graphite powder you may be alright w/o introducing oil into the cabinet.

I think that it would be great to see this project done with surplus bike parts.  Of all the sources we've listed, used bikes are about the most widely available and cheapest option I can think of.

[solderguy1]

Picked up a $7 caster at Orchard Supply last week.  unscrewed the axel bolt and removed the wheel, it looks like a 2x4 can be bolted there instead.  Then the baseplate can be joined to the lcd monitor by using another board in between.

That sounds interesting.. Got any drawings? (Or pics).

Hi DaOldMan, here you go, sorry for the delay (camera was at work).

The width is a perfect fit for a 2x4, sometimes the cabinet gods smile on their worshippers

[crashwg]

But chains need oil, and I dont want oil inside my box.

Chains only need oil so they can flex.  If you're mounting the chain to a solid surface and using the sprocket to push against that, no oil necessary! 

Another idea could be to use a rubber wheel on the end of the motor, then spring-load the motor/wheel contraption against the wooden monitor wheel.

[DaOld Man]

Hey solderguy1, that looks neat.
What do you do? Mount an LCD to the base of it?

You are right crashwg.. I suppose a setup like that wouldnt need oil, except maybe a thin coat to keep the chain from rusting?
A rubber wheel on the motor might work..
I will give that some thought.

*Edited for spelling*

[solderguy1]

Hey solderguy1, that looks neat.
What do you do? Mount an LCD to the base of it?

Yes, that's the plan.  The lcd has four threaded holes in the back, so I'm gonna mount a chunk of 1x6 to it, maybe with some washer stacks for standoffs.  Then another four bolts to mount the other side of the wood to the caster base.

I was also thinking of extending the board out in one direction for weight so the monitor will turn until it hits a hardstop.  That way the motor/cord only has to provide force in one direction, just slack in the other.