americanlongrifles.org
A pulley is a wheel on an axle designed to support movement and change of direction for cables or belts along its circumference.[OED. Oxford University Press. 1989]
Pulleys are used to lift loads, apply force, and to transmit power.
The drive element of a pulley system can be a rope, cable, belt, or chain running over the pulley inside its groove.
There are several types of pulley on a bandsaw machine. Each serve to help the bandsaw run as smooth as possible.
One of the most significant pulleys is a drive pulley.
Mounted on a drive motor, a drive pulley moves a loop of material that runs between two or more pulleys known as a drive belt. The process controls the speed rate of the saw blade during cutting and why the pulley plays a significant role in bandsaw operation.
A drive pulley is necessary since a bandsaw is set to function at various speeds. Speed — measured in RPMs (revolutions per minute) — is increased or decreased depending on a variety of encountered conditions. Necessary adjustments to the operation are applied when there are changes in load, application requirements, and other circumstances.
A vector drive pulley and standard variable drive pulley are two types of bandsaw pulley in use. Both have the same general purpose and yet perform different functions.
A vector drive pulley is capable of running a saw blade at high speeds. Fast acceleration and flexibility are obtained through the cutting process. The speed applied during the process depends on the specific requirements of the work load.
A standard variable-drive pulley is more economical. It has a reliable method of speed change and allows the user to find the ideal speed without changing sheaves and belts. It does not require lubrication or frequent speed change, making it convenient for large cutting industries.
The standard variable-drive pulley uses a variable-speed drive belt designed to operate over small pitch diameters and offers a broader speed range to the pulley. It maximizes application efficiency and productivity depending on the versatility of the belt.
