Wire Ropes for High RPM Power Transmission?

There are round ureathane type of belting. I've used them in the past. Check with your belt supplier.

How do you splice a wire rope into a continuous drive loop, without lumps in it that will make the drive run rough?

(Actually there are some ways, but they are not especially well known.)

--Tornado

The thought just came to my mind, using the wire rope in an helical path wound over a cylindrical component keeps shifting as if its a nut on bold.

I was imagining that rope stayes in its position rotating the cylinder/ pulley!

Tornado, your comment made me think. thanks

Try a "Long Splice", that way you won't get any lumps in it, to learn how to do this, read about it in a book about knots and splicing, or talk to an old seman!

Xanasax

RPM is not really the only factor in belt or cable type mechanical power transmission. The relation between the travel speed and the sheave diameters is also very important.

Too small of sheave radius and too fast of travel speeds for those radius cause problems and will quickly wear out your belting or cables if they are not specifically designed to handle those conditions.

Tcmtech,

You are right, But given those operating conditions, can we design a wire rope which gives a good life and reliability?

I think people are assuming you are using the rope as a belt. It sounds to me as if you are using it as a torsion member, (in a helix) as in a flexible shaft. A small flexible shaft (as used on a Dremel tool or Foredom tool) can spin at 25,000 - 30,000 rpm. Obviously, there needs to be an outer housing to prevent wild whipping.

K Fry,

I meant the wire rope as Belt only not a torsion member! Liked your angle of view other way

If you are talking about the belt being twisted 90° between the two pulleys, you are not limited to a round cross section belt. If the distance between the two shafts is far enough, you would be able to use a v-belt if needed. You would have a bit more belt wear that way, but it is an option if you have enough space.

A v-belt would be less prone to jumping out of the pulley, than a round belt; as it is seated in a deeper groove.

Not knowing your HP, or space, or lubrication/not options, or the shaft configuration angles and centers, bi-directional or not.

Bead chain comes in 'better than jewelry' versions

Twisted flat belt will allow up to 90⁰ of shaft axis 'twist'

Some input on the first sentence above may get you better advice.