S2M vs GT2 belt - are the pulleys the same?

[Scott K]

So I am well under way into converting my FlashForge creator into a Frankenstein combination of Replicator 1, Replicator 2 and Replicator 2X and just about every day I figure out something else that needs to be changed to achieve my end goal.  So far I have a Alu-Single carriage, Official REP 2 bar mount and hot end, Alu-X ends, Bottleworks arms and HBP, upgraded fans, installed the extra MOSFET and auto reset cap, pillow blocks, improved y-axis motion transfer rods, Al's idler pulley (GT2 pulley), etc.

My current realization is that my machine uses S2M style belts which I had thought were just a Chinese designation for GT2.  I was wrong, it is actually a Japanese standard with a slightly different tooth profile as seen here: LINK and discussed a little here: LINK

Now I do realize that they mention the designs are very similar and that they perform the same function but I can't find any info stating whether or not they can utilize the same pulleys.  I ASSUME, since my machine has the S2M belts on it, that they specced out S2M compatible pulleys.  I was planning on buying new GT2 belts from SDP-SI and installing them.

I am now concerned that if I do that, I may be introducing some issues if the belts are not compatible with the existing pulleys.  I would buy new GT2 pulleys but apparently 17T GT2 pulleys are ultra rare and converting to a 18T pulley is going to make my machine a bit of a odd-ball when using GPX to convert to x3g.  Yes I know it is possible, but I would like to avoid that if I can.

Does anybody know, for sure, that a GT2 belt will work with a S2M pulley?

[Ryan Carlyle]

Just based on the dimensions, it'll probably work "good enough" but cause accelerated belt wear. 

Maybe you could go with 18t GT2? That's what the Rep2/2x use, so it should be a "stock" profile selection for the steps/mm.

[Scott K]

Yeah, I am piecing that plan together at SDP-SI right now. I was going to get Fairlock hubs for the two steppers and the connection to the gantry system and then use standard 18T pulleys for the 4 on the front and back rods. So I don't spend $19x7!

I'm so far into this conversion at this point, what's another $150!

Sent from my iPhone 5S!

[Scott K]

Well, I bit the bullet and just bought 10 GT2, 18T, Fairloc pulleys from China for $75 shipped.  I guess we will see what I actually get.

[Ryan Carlyle]

That's crazy cheap if they're actually a good knock-off of Fairlocs. 

[Dan Newman]

On 15/05/2014, 10:29 AM, Scott K wrote:
> Well, I bit the bullet and just bought 10 GT2, 18T, Fairloc pulleys from
> China for $75 shipped. I guess we will see what I actually get.

Derek at Robotdigg expects to have some in Monday at $2 apiece. They aren't
Fairloc and instead should have the ordinary 2 set screws. (As you already
know, Fairloc is intended for pulleys which need to be removed regularly.)

Derek has this up as a place holder on his store front but had indicated
this upcoming Monday as when they should be available,

http://www.robotdigg.com/product/178/18-Tooth-5mm-Bore-GT2-Pulley

Dan

[Scott K]

Yeah, I bought 3 extra just to make sure I had spares.  The shop I bought them from had a pretty nice website and looked to have a LOT of machining capabilities.  I emailed them and got a response in less than 5 minutes.

Here is the place I bought from but just payed via Paypal so I guess I can try to get my money back if I don't get what I payed for.

http://cdleno.en.alibaba.com/product/1611952151-220481009/Aluminum_GT2_Timing_Pulleys.html

[Ryan Carlyle]

Pics look a little rougher machining than genuine SDP-SI, but not $12 rougher. Probably a good buy. Let us know how they turn out.