One of the largest manufacturers of metal conveyor belts, Cambridge Engineered Solutions, has launched its newest, high-temperature stainless steel belt, the Knuckleback™.
The belt is designed with a unique weld that is intended to reduce stretch and slag build-up during high temperature manufacturing. As of 2013, the belts have already been installed at several plants and since the feedback was positive Cambridge has added the specialty belt to its product portfolio for metal manufacturers, fabricators and machinists.
In standard metal belts, high temperatures (over 1,700 degrees) can often cause them to stretch, which disrupts production. But the Knuckleback™ strengthens and lengthens the connection between the belt’s spirals and rods, which helps to extend the life the belt. The belt is named after the reinforced, reversed weld of the joint (knuckle) between the rod with each flat spiral wire end (back) to the preceding joint. The weld thus moves tension away from the weld point by knuckling the spiral wire prior to welding and allowing it to handle more wear and tear.