Custom machined part
Plastic timing pulleys & timing gears
- Matched to
- Profile, pitch & tooth count
- Belts
- Trapezoidal & curvilinear
- Materials
- Plastics or aluminum
- Quantity
- Prototype to production
Toothed pulleys for synchronous timing belts, CNC machined in engineering plastics or aluminum to match your belt. Made to your drawing or from your worn pulley, from one part to production runs.
- ±0.002"–±0.005" on critical dimensions
- Family owned in Aurora since 1986
- Expedited service for breakdowns
Belt and pulley
Machined to match your belt
A timing pulley has to match its belt’s tooth profile, pitch and width. The code printed on the belt gives all three, so we can machine the pulley from it. Choose a belt type to see an example.
Example code
- Pitch length tenths of an inch = 21.0"
- 210
- Section 0.200" pitch
- XL
- Width hundredths of an inch = 0.37"
- 037
Inch trapezoidal (MXL to XXH)
Straight-sided trapezoidal teeth. The section letters set the pitch.
Common pitches
- MXL 0.080"
- XL 0.200"
- L 0.375"
- H 0.500"
- XH 0.875"
- XXH 1.250"
Example code
- Pitch length 450 mm
- 450
- Pitch 5 mm, HTD profile
- 5M
- Width 15 mm
- 15
HTD (curvilinear)
Rounded, curvilinear teeth. HTD stands for High Torque Drive.
Common pitches
- 3M 3 mm
- 5M 5 mm
- 8M 8 mm
- 14M 14 mm
- 20M 20 mm
Example code
- Pitch length 400 mm
- 400
- Pitch 2 mm, GT profile
- 2GT
- Width 6 mm
- 6
GT (modified curvilinear)
A Gates profile, also written 2MGT and loosely called “GT2”. Give the exact belt part number.
Common pitches
- 2GT 2 mm
- 3GT 3 mm
- 5GT 5 mm
- 8GT 8 mm
- 14GT 14 mm
Example code
- Width 10 mm
- 10
- Profile and pitch T profile, 5 mm
- T5
- Pitch length 500 mm
- 500
Metric T and AT (trapezoidal)
Metric trapezoidal teeth. AT is a heavier-duty version of the same pitch.
Common pitches
- T2.5 2.5 mm
- T5 5 mm
- T10 10 mm
- T20 20 mm
- AT5 5 mm
- AT10 10 mm
- AT20 20 mm
Same pitch isn’t the same belt. A 5 mm HTD, GT and T5 belt each need their own tooth form. Don’t assume they interchange.
Can’t read it? Send the belt maker and part number, or the belt itself. Code formats vary by maker; these are common examples.
What defines the pulley
Four things that define the pulley
-
Teeth
- Belt profile and pitch
- Tooth count or pitch diameter
- Belt maker and part number
-
Face and flanges
- Belt width and face width
- Flanges on one side, both or none
-
Hub and bore
- Bore, keyway and set screws or clamp
- Hub length and position
- Metal insert, if needed
-
The drive
- Driver or driven, and the ratio
- Center distance and shaft orientation
- Reversing or positioning duty
Getting a quote
Start with what you have
Any one of these is enough to get a quote started. Pick yours to see what helps.
Send the drawing and we machine to it.
- Belt part number
- Quantity
- Plastic, if specified
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Send the old pulley and, if you can, its belt.
- Belt maker and part number
- Shaft size
- Quantity
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Send the belt code. We’ll ask for the rest.
- Belt part number
- Tooth count
- Bore and hub details
Upload drawings, CAD files or photos on the quote form.
Plastics for timing pulleys
Common choices, and why
- Acetal Stiff and dimensionally stable, so it holds tooth form. Low friction.
- Nylon Tough and wear-resistant. It takes on moisture, which we allow for when machining.
- PEEK For heat and chemical exposure.
- Detectable grades Metal- and X-ray-detectable plastics, for lines with inspection systems.
- Aluminum When the drive needs metal. We machine it too.
Choosing a material
Plastic or aluminum pulleys
We machine both, so the choice comes down to the drive. Here’s an honest guide.
Where plastic helps
- Lower rotating inertia
- Lighter pulleys are easier to accelerate, useful on servo and positioning drives.
- Non-magnetic
- For drives near sensors or magnetic equipment.
- Corrosion resistant
- Unaffected by wet and washdown service.
- Lighter to handle
- Easier to fit, especially on larger pulleys.
Machined in Aurora
How your pulleys are made
±0.002"–
±0.005"
On critical dimensions, depending on the plastic. Specs and CAD files are kept, so a reorder matches the last batch.
-
Teeth to your belt
Tooth forms CNC milled to match the belt profile, with plain or flanged faces.
CNC milling -
Bored to your shaft
Bores, hubs, keyways and set screws machined, with a metal insert fitted where the bore needs it.
-
Pairs to production
Single pulleys, matched driver and driven pairs, prototypes and production runs.
Evaluating a supplier? See the shop and how we check the work.
Buyer questions
Timing pulley FAQs
Something else? Call (630) 904-2525.
Usually not. “GT2” is used loosely for several 2 mm Gates profiles. Send the belt maker and part number, the tooth count and the belt width.
Don’t assume it will. Some GT and HTD combinations work one way but not the other, and the same pitch doesn’t mean the same tooth form. Tell us the exact belt.
Yes. We machine aluminum, brass and bronze as well as plastics, and can fit a metal insert where the bore carries more load than plastic should. Tell us the torque and the shaft.
We hold ±0.002" to ±0.005" on critical dimensions, depending on the plastic. We review your drawing and confirm the critical dimensions, such as the bore, with your quote.
Timing depends on the pulley, material and quantity, and comes with your quote. For an emergency breakdown, ask about our expedited service.
Not a timing pulley?
Find the right part
We machine almost any plastic part. If yours isn’t listed, describe it in a quote request.
- It drives roller chain Sprockets
- It has a smooth V-belt or rope groove Sheaves
- It meshes with another gear: spur and helical gears, machined to your drawing Plastic gears
- It sets container pitch on a packaging line Timing wheels
- It carries containers through a machine Star wheels
- You only have the old part, any type Reverse engineering
Standard quote
Ready to send your pulley details?
Experienced help from your first quote to the finished part.