Information on 3D printing pulleys.

[MattLampitt]

Where from?
What material?
What fill pattern?
Where do you obtain the 3D files to send the printing people?
and can you edit them before sending?

So yeh, I’m coming to the point in my build where I’m needing to lighten things up, replacing my aluminium drive pulleys with 3D printed ones seems like an option I want to explore.
Wondered if aycone could give some good advice?
cheers. :-)

[typhoon_driver]

Where from?
I've done them for a few teams

What material?
Nylons typically work best. Either straight nylon or carbon fibre nylon such as onyx Best to not use them as slippage pulleys though as the heat generated melts the plastic.

What fill pattern?
Depends on the print tech

Where do you obtain the 3D files to send the printing people?
You can CAD model them yourself. Alternatively you get your 3D print provider to do it (yes I can model pulleys)

and can you edit them before sending?
If you have the CAD software to model them yeah

[MattLampitt]

You Gary... are the man, definitely a big help on the way to getting this bot done and in the arena soon. :-)


I only know how to use quite basic sketch up and so designing the pulley is out of my ability at the moment.


I have managed to find a site that has the STL files of the pulleys I want but when I open them in Sketchup I can’t seem to edit them.


It’s pulleys for drive I that require, one on the output shaft of a drill motor and another fixed to a wheel.
4 x T5 pulleys, 10 teeth, for 10mm belt with flange
4 x T5 pulleys, 30 teeth, for 10mm belt with flange
May be an idea to order spares too.


Shall I send you them over for quote? And would you be able to edit the model if I can’t find a way to do it? Will pay obviously.

[typhoon_driver]

Matt email me at Gary@plastiprint3d.com with the models and what you are after and we can take it from there.

[MattLampitt]

Sound :-)
will email you over the next few days then.. I want to go over my designs and double check sizes and pulley centre distances and stuff to be sure of what I’m asking for.... im also pondering between T5 and HDT5 at the moment too. Haha.