Technical Data Top chain Selection
To view selection procedures and precautions, please proceed to the following.
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Selection Process for Plastic Modular Chain (Wide Width)
Follow the process below to select the plastic modular chain (wide type) and the wearstrip that are most suitable for the application.
(Click on each item to scroll to the main text. )
- 1. Check Conveyance Conditions
- 2. Select Top Plate Material and Chain Type
- 3. Select Wearstrip Material
- 4. Determine Coefficient
- 5. Calculate Chain Tension and Power Required
- 6. Determine Chain Type and Chain Width
Note)
- 1. When selecting BTM8H, WT2515F-W, WT3109-W, BTH16 and LTW series, please fill in the inquiry sheet, and contact a Tsubaki representative.
- 2. When selecting WT2250VG or WT2250 flight type, contact a Tsubaki representative.
Steps 1. Check Conveyance Conditions
Check the operating condition as follows.
Conveyance Conditions Checklist
| 1.Conveyed object | (1)Material |
|---|---|
| (2)Mass per unit g/each | |
| (3)shape | |
| (4)Dimension (length x width x height) (diameter x height) mm | |
| (5)Direction of chain travel | |
| 2.Conveyor layout | (1)Straight conveyance / Sideflex conveyance |
| (2)Conveyor length m | |
| (3)Width of conveyor mm | |
| (4)Layout of conveyance | |
| (5)Space m | |
| 3.Conveying conditions | (1)Amount of conveyed products BPM·Piece |
| (2)Interval of conveyed products mm | |
| (3)Conveying speed m/min | |
| (4)Lubrication status | |
| (5)Stock of conveyed products (Accumulation and percentage) (If “yes”, accumulate length: m) | |
| 4.Usage conditions | (1)Temperature ℃ |
| (2)Conditions which may cause corrosion such as, contact with chemicals, water, and humidity (Corrosion resistance to various fluids) (If “yes”, name of liquid) | |
| (3)Presence of abrasives which may accelerate wear such as glass fragments, paint scraps, metal powder, sand | |
| (4)Exposure to UV radiation |
2-(3) Conveyance layout and others
Steps 2. Select Top Plate Material and Chain Type
Determine the chain material to be used based on operating environment and application.
Note)
- 1. Refer to the relevant product page for chain pitch of chain type, applicable chain material, and operating temperature range.
- 2. Refer to “Corrosion resistance to various fluids”.
Steps 3. Select Wearstrip Material
Select an appropriate wearstrip material based on the chain materials.
Table 1. Wearstrip Material Selection Guide
| Chain | Wearstrip material | Lubrication | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without | yes | ||||
| Abrasives | |||||
| Without | yes | Without | yes | ||
| Plastic modular chain (Wide type ) ・Straight running ・Sideflexing |
Stainless | B | D | A | A |
| steel | A | C | B | B | |
| Plastic rail (P rail ) | D | × | A | × | |
| PLF rail | B | × | A | × | |
| M rail SJ-CNO |
A | × | × | × | |
Note)
- 1. A: Strongly recommended, B: Recommended, C: Very usable, D: Usable, ×: Not appropriate
- 2. Select stainless steel or steel wearstrips for KV series chains for normal temperatures, and a stainless steel wearstrip for high-temperature applications.
- 3. Recommended metal wearstrip material is cold-rolled metal.
- 4. The recommended lubricant for steel rails is oil.
Material, Color and Features of Plastic Wearstrips
| Material, color | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic rail (P rail ) |
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (Color ：White or green color ) |
・Most commonly used rail ・Machined or extruded products ・For plastic top chain, recommended for use in wet conditions ・Low water absorption; chemical and impact resistance are also excellent |
| PLF rail | Low friction and wear resistance Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (Color ：white ) |
・Lower friction and more wear resistant than P rail ・Machined or extruded products |
| M rail SJ-CNO |
Special polyamide (M rail ：Color ：Blue color ) (SJ-CNO：Color ：Purple color ) |
・Rail for dry conditions only ・Wear resistant ・Machined item |
Note) Operating Temperature Range
Plastic rail (P rail), PLF rail：-20℃～60℃
M rail, SJ-CNO：-20℃～80℃
Steps 4. Determine Coefficient
Coefficient factors shown in table 2 are based on in house test data.
These values may differ depending on the operation conditions, atmosphere, shape of the conveyed products, chain grime, and other conditions.
Use these factors to calculate chain tension shown in step 5.
Table 2. Coefficient of Dynamic Friction between Plastic Modular Chain and Wearstrip or Conveyed Product (μ1, μ2)
| Wearstrip and conveyed material | Lubrication | Top plate material | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed type/Open type | Net type | DIA | DIY | ||||||||||
| Normal Note) 5 | LFB, NLF, MWS, CB, WR, HG |
ALF | KV150 | KV250 | HTW | MF | LFB, MWS |
ALF | |||||
| Wearstrip material (μ1) | Plastic rail (P rail ) M rail |
No lube or water | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.15 | - | - | 0.30 | 0.27 | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.30 | 0.25 |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.11 | - | - | 0.20 | - | 0.13 | 0.11 | - | 0.12 | ||
| SJ-CNO | No lube or water | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.13 | - | - | - | - | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.30 | 0.20 | |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.11 | - | - | - | - | 0.12 | 0.11 | - | 0.12 | ||
| PLF rail | No lube or water | 0.18 | 0.14 | 0.12 | - | - | - | - | 0.14 | 0.12 | - | - | |
| Soapsuds | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.11 | - | - | - | - | 0.12 | 0.11 | - | - | ||
| Steel stainless steel | No lube or water | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.25 | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.27 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.30 | 0.25 | |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.11 | - | - | 0.20 | - | 0.15 | 0.11 | - | 0.12 | ||
| Conveyed material (μ2) | Metal can | No lube or water | 0.25 | 0.20 | 0.14 | 0.23 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.28 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.25 |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.11 | - | - | 0.20 | - | 0.12 | 0.10 | - | 0.12 | ||
| Glass bottle | No lube or water | 0.22 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.18 | 0.35 | 0.22 | 0.25 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.25 | 0.22 | |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.10 | - | - | 0.10 | - | 0.11 | 0.10 | - | 0.12 | ||
| Plastic container | No lube or water | 0.25 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.20 | - | 0.30 | 0.28 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.30 | 0.25 | |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.15 | 0.13 | 0.11 | - | - | 0.20 | - | 0.11 | 0.10 | - | 0.15 | ||
| Paper package | No lube or water | 0.31 | 0.29 | 0.22 | 0.35 | - | 0.35 | 0.38 | 0.20 | 0.15 | 0.38 | 0.30 | |
| Soapy water or oil | 0.20 | 0.21 | 0.12 | - | - | - | - | 0.19 | 0.11 | - | 0.20 | ||
Note)
- 1. The dynamic friction coefficients listed are for room temperature (50°C or below). Under temperature conditions that exceed 50˚C, use the dynamic friction coefficient 0.35.
- 2. The dynamic friction coefficient data above is based on in-house test data. The dynamic friction coefficient values can slightly vary due to residue on the chains, the shape of the contact surface of the objects being conveyed, and other conditions.
In particular, paper package can have significant differences in dynamic friction coefficients based on the contact surface shape and the material used. For this reason, dynamic friction coefficient measurement is recommended for each object type. - 3. M rails and SJ-CNO are only for dry use conditions.
- 4. In the case of water lubrication, depending on the type of object being conveyed, the dynamic friction coefficient can be greater than the values in table 2, which can result in adsorption.
- 5. Standard series, Y, E, AR and UVR series.
Table 3. Angle Factor (αL) and Length Factor (αS) when Using Curved Wearstrips
| Top Plate Material | Lubricated | Sideflex angle | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30° | 45° | 60° | 90° | 120° | 150° | 180° | ||||
| Angle factor (αL) | Polyacetal | B | No lube or water | 1.15 | 1.22 | 1.30 | 1.50 | 1.70 | 1.90 | 2.20 |
| Soapy water | 1.10 | 1.13 | 1.15 | 1.25 | 1.35 | 1.50 | 1.60 | |||
| LFG | No lube or water | 1.10 | 1.17 | 1.25 | 1.35 | 1.50 | 1.70 | 1.85 | ||
| Soapy water | 1.10 | 1.11 | 1.15 | 1.25 | 1.35 | 1.50 | 1.60 | |||
| HTW | No lube or water | 1.20 | 1.27 | 1.45 | 1.75 | 2.10 | 2.50 | 3.00 | ||
| Soapy water | 1.10 | 1.17 | 1.25 | 1.35 | 1.50 | 1.70 | 1.85 | |||
| Length factor (αS) | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 3.1 | |||
Note) For flight-type inclined movement, apply the above coefficients according to the angle of inclination.
Steps 5. Calculate Chain Tension and Power Required
Based on the formula below, calculate the tension acting on the chain and the required power (general-purpose conveyor).
Note) Refer to the tension calculation examples for special conveyors (pasteurizers, warmers, coolers) and conveyors with nose bars (on the driven side, front side, or both ends), forward/reverse bottom drive, Inclined movement.
Note) SI units and gravimetric units
The formulas are given for both SI units and gravimetric units.
When calculating tension F with gravimetric units, the weight (kgf) in gravimetric units is the same value as the mass (kg) in SI units.
Explanation of symbols
- F = Chain tension kN{kgf}
- m1 = Chain mass (kg/m)
Chain mass calculation method
Calculate the chain mass for a length of 1 m.
If the preferred chain width is A mm
m1 = Chain mass (Catalog value (kg/m2)) × A/1000
- S1 = Length of conveying portion (m)
- m2 = Mass of conveyed objects in conveying portion (kg/m)
- S2 = Length of accumulating portion (m)
- m3 = Weight of conveyed products in accumulation section (kg/m)
- μ1 = Coefficient of dynamic friction between chain and wearstrip (See Table 2 )
- μ2 = Coefficient of dynamic friction between conveyed products and chain in accumulated section (See Table 2 )
- P = Power required (kW)
- V = Chain speed (m/min)
- ηNote) = Transmission efficiency of drive unit
SI Unit (kN)
Chain tension ......(1)
F = 9.80665 × 10-3 { (2.1m1 + m2) S1・μ1 + (2.1m1 + m3) S2・μ1 + m3・S2・μ2 }
Power required
P = F・V 60ηNote)
Gravity unit (kgf)
Chain tension ......(1)
F = (2.1m1 + m2) S1・μ1 + (2.1m1 + m3) S2・μ1 + m3・S2・μ2
Power required
P = F・V 6120ηNote)
Note)
- 1. For the mechanical transmission efficiency, check the drive unit used.
- 2. Plastic modular chains (Mold-to-Width) should be selected according to the Top chain selection procedure.
Calculating Tension for sideflexing conveyance (with one curved section)
The calculation is basically the same as for straight conveyance. The tension acting on the corner part is corrected using the angle coefficient.
A calculation example is shown for the conveyor route below.
For sideflexing conveyance, in addition to the chain tension F, the chain tension Fα at the curved section is calculated.
Lubrication is recommended for curved conveyance where the chain and wearstrip slide against each other.
In particular, when the sideflex radius spans an angle greater than 90°, the chain and the wearstrip will wear unevenly in a relatively short period of time, and chain float may occur.
F = 9.80665 × 10-3 ・FD (kN) ... (1)
Tension at return-way
[Tension at section A ：FA]
FA = m1(L1 + L2) μ1・αL 90°
L2 = r × αS 90°
[Tension at section B ：FB]
FB = 1.1 ×(FA + m1・L3・μ1)
Tension at carry-way
[Tension at section C ：FC]
FC ={FB + (m1 + m2) (L2 + L3) μ1 + m3 (L2 + L3) μ2}・αL 90°
L2 = r × αS 90°
[Chain tension at the curved section ：Fα]
Fα = Fc × 2
It can be used as long as Fα
[Tension at section D ：FD]
FD = FC + {(m1 + m2) L1・μ1 + m3・L1・μ2}
Calculating Tension for Sideflexing Conveyance (with Two Curved Sections)
When sliding the chain against curved wearstrip, no more than two 90° curves should be allowed in one conveyor. Otherwise it may cause pulsation of the chain movement.
To include additional curved sections, consider splitting the conveyor into sections.
For sideflexing conveyance, in addition to the chain tension F, the chain tension Fα at the curved section is calculated.
F = 9.80665 × 10-3 ・FF (kN) ... (1)
Tension at return-way
[Tension at section A ：FA]
FA = m1(L1 + L2) μ1・αL 90°
L2 = r × αS 90°
[Tension at section B ：FB]
FB = {FA + m1(L3 + L4) μ1} αL 90°
L4 = r × αS 90°
[Tension at section C ：FC]
FC = 1.1 × (FB + m1・L5・μ1)
Tension at carry-way
[Tension at section D ：FD]
FD = {FC + (m1 + m2) (L4 + L5) μ1 + m3(L4 + L5) μ2}・αL 90°
L4 = r × αS 90°
[Tension at section E ：FE]
FE = {FD + (m1 + m2) (L2 + L3) μ1 + m3(L2 + L3) μ2}・αL 90°
L2 = r × αS 90°
[Chain tension at the curved section ：Fα]
Fα = FE × 2
It can be used as long as Fα
[Tension at section F ：FF]
FF = FE + {(m1 + m2) L1・μ1 + m3・L1・μ2}
Calculating tension for inclined movement (inclined only)
Note) SI units and gravimetric units
The formulas are given for both SI units and gravimetric units.
When calculating tension F with gravimetric units, the weight (kgf) in gravimetric units is the same value as the mass (kg) in SI units.
Explanation of symbols
- F = Chain tension kN{kgf}
- m1 = Chain mass (kg/m)
Chain mass calculation method
Calculate the chain mass for a length of 1 m.
If the preferred chain width is A mm
m1 = Chain mass (Catalog value (kg/m2)) × A/1000
- m2 = Mass of conveyed objects in conveying portion (kg/m)
- μ1 = Coefficient of dynamic friction between chain and wearstrip (See Table 2 )
- αL = Angle coefficient of the curve part between horizontal and inclined (See Table 3 )
- αS = Length factor (See Table 3 )
- θ = Inclination angle ( Deg. )
- r = Radius of curve part between horizontal and inclined (m)
- P = Power required (kW)
- V = Chain speed (m/min)
- ηNote) = Transmission efficiency of drive unit
Note) For the mechanical transmission efficiency, check the drive unit used.
Table 4. Calculating Tension for Inclined Movement
| Chain material | No lube (dry) | Soapy water | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel-based | 10˚ | - | 6˚ |
| Standard Series (Polyacetal) | 5˚ | 3˚ | - |
| Rubber type | 20˚ | - | - |
F = 9.80665 × 10-3 ・FB (kN) ... (1)
Tension at return-way
[Tension at section A ：FA]
FA = 1.1m1 (Lh・μ1 - Lv)
FA < 0, FA = 0
Tension at carry-way
[Tension at section B ：FB]
FB = FA + {(m1 + m2) (Lh・μ1 + Lv)}
Chain load
F = FB
Steps 6. Determine Chain Type and Chain Width
- (1)The tension F (kN) applied to the chain derived using formula (1) is converted into chain tension F' (kN/m) per 1 meter of chain width by the following formula.
F' =
1000F
Chain width (mm)
...... (2)
- (2)Select a chain type and the width of plastic modular chain whose maximum allowable load is greater than F', the tension on chain width per meter obtained by formula (2).
Note)
- 1. The operating temperature under wet conditions is 60˚C at maximum, except for the following: HTW series: Max. 105˚C and KV250 series: Max. 250˚C. KV150 series is not allowed to be used under wet conditions.
- 2. To obtain the maximum allowable load, refer to the allowable load graph, and specify the chain speed and operating temperature on the diagram. See each product page for allowable load graphs.
- 3. If the maximum allowable load is not adequate, select larger chains. To determine a chain type, the conveyance environment should be taken into account.
F' = 1000F Chain width (mm) ...... (2)
Note)
- 1. The operating temperature under wet conditions is 60˚C at maximum, except for the following: HTW series: Max. 105˚C and KV250 series: Max. 250˚C. KV150 series is not allowed to be used under wet conditions.
- 2. To obtain the maximum allowable load, refer to the allowable load graph, and specify the chain speed and operating temperature on the diagram. See each product page for allowable load graphs.
- 3. If the maximum allowable load is not adequate, select larger chains. To determine a chain type, the conveyance environment should be taken into account.
