Pitch-line geometry, not belt selection
Controlled Synchronous-Belt Geometry Calculator
Calculate the ideal open-drive pitch path from a documented center distance, or solve center distance for an entered integer belt tooth count. No catalogue size, tooth profile, power capacity or tension is selected.
Controlled two-pulley calculation
Ideal open-drive pitch-line geometry
δ = |r₂ − r₁| ; α = asin(δ / C)
s = √(C² − δ²)
L = 2s + rsmall(π − 2α) + rlarge(π + 2α)
ჩრსაჭირო = L / p
This is the exact planar geometry of two circular pitch lines joined by straight external tangents. It is not the common truncated approximation 2C + π(D₁+D₂)/2 + (D₂−D₁)²/(4C). Center mode solves the same exact ideal geometry by bisection until the entered integer pitch length N·p is met.
Real pulley outside diameters, tooth geometry, belt neutral axis, manufacturing tolerances and installation tension are product-specific. The computational non-overlap condition C > r₁+r₂ is conservative pitch-circle geometry, not a manufacturer clearance requirement.
Standards and catalogue boundary
- ISO 13050:2022, Edition 3 covers specified metric curvilinear profile systems and includes pitch spacing, length, pulley geometry and tolerances. A common numerical pitch does not make proprietary or ISO profiles interchangeable.
- ISO 5295:2023, Edition 4 establishes power-rating and centre-distance formulae for trapezoidal belts only and explicitly does not apply to curvilinear synchronous belts. This page does not use it to rate HTD or GT products.
- The official Gates PowerGrip GT3 manual says exact center distance is found by convergence between center-distance and belt-length equations, and that synchronous-belt pitch length increments are multiples of pitch. It requires catalogue and power-rating steps beyond geometry.
- There is no universal even-tooth rule. An official Gates GT3 product record lists a 105 mm, 3 mm-pitch belt with 35 teeth; current catalogue availability must be checked by exact family and part.
Official evidence
Official design procedure, stock tables, exact center-distance iteration, pitch-length increments, profile distinctions, tolerances and installation considerations.
Official example with 105 mm pitch length, 3 mm pitch and 35 teeth, directly disproving automatic even-tooth rounding.
Official current-status and scope page for specified metric curvilinear synchronous belt and pulley systems.
Official scope page: power rating and centre distance for trapezoidal belts only, not curvilinear belts.