Link Belts VS V Belts Pros and Cons Uncovered

In machinery industry, drive belt is the core component of the power transmission system. There are various types of drive belts, link belt and V-belt are the two most common types. Understanding their differences and respective advantages and disadvantages is crucial for the belt selection of mechanical equipment.

Basic Definition

V-belt: V-belt is a ring-shaped transmission belt with a trapezoidal cross-section. In transmission systems, it can generate friction with the belt through the grooves of the pulley, thereby achieving power transmission. V-belt is suitable for power transmission with small center distances and large transmission ratios. It is widely used in fields such as automobiles and industrial equipment because they have high transmission efficiency and reliability.

Link belt: Link belt is also called “adjustable belt”, which is composed of multiple unit links that can be connected. Unlike the traditional V-belts, the link belt can be flexibly adjusted in any length by adding or removing interconnected links, providing higher adaptability. They are usually used in mechanical equipment that requires frequent replacement or adjustment of length.

Main Differences

Structure
V-belt: : It is integral designs, typically made of materials such as rubber with polyester reinforced core, featuring a fixed length and a fixed V-shaped cross-section.

Link belt: Composed of multiple small unit links, the length can be adjusted by adding or removing interconnected links. This structure offers greater flexibility and is particularly suitable for use in situations with limited space or where precise adjustments are required.

Performance
V-belt: Due to their compact design, V-belt can transmit high power and are less likely to slip, making them suitable for high speed and high power drive. But its service life will be shorten under extreme environment like oil, water or corrosion.

Link belt: Although link belt is usually not as efficient in terms of transmission power as V-belt, their design makes maintenance more convenient, especially when the belts need to be replaced. The Link design of the link belt also enables them to generate less heat during operation, avoiding the risks of overheating and excessive wear. And link belt polyurethane material is more oil and wear resistant than traditional V-belt.

Installation and Maintenance
V-belt: The installation needs to disassemble the machine parts in advance and if the belt is damaged or its length needs to be adjusted, the entire belt must be replaced.

Link belt: Due to the flexible adjustment of the length, the installation process and maintenance is quite simple, there is no need to  disassemble the machine parts or completely replace the belts. Only some links need to be replaced, which greatly reduces the downtime and improve workshop productivity.

Cost Effective
V-belt: Although the initial cost of a single V-belt is relatively low, frequent replacement and maintenance may be required over long-term use, increasing the overall cost.

Link belt: The initial cost is relatively high. However, due to their flexibility and durability, the overall maintenance cost of link belt is low, especially in situations with frequent replacements.

Application Scenarios

V-belt: Suitable for various traditional industrial machinery with high speed and high load, such as air compressors, lathe and electric drive systems, etc

Link belt: Ideal for equipment that requires flexible length adjustment or frequent maintenance, especially in transportation systems or applications that require frequent starts and stops.

Advantages of Puteken As Power Twist Link Belt Supplier

Puteken not only provides high-quality power twist link belt, but also with its many years of experience in the industry, is able to offer one-stop belting solutions to customers. As a leading supplier of link belting, Puteken’s power twist link belt have the following major advantages:

• High-quality materials: Our Link Belts are made of high-strength polyurethane with polyester materials, ensuring a longer service life and greater durability.
• Flexibility and customization: Power twist link belt has a high degree of adjustability and can be customized according to the specific needs of customers to ensure the best fit.
• Fast delivery and maintenance support: We offer our customers fast delivery by abundant of stock and professional technical support to help you quickly solve problems in equipment maintenance and reduce production downtime.