Full definition
A grooved or toothed wheel mounted on a shaft that guides, tensions, and transmits force to a belt in a power transmission or conveyor system. V-belt pulleys have one or more trapezoidal grooves per ISO 4183 / DIN 2211; timing pulleys have precisely machined teeth per ISO 13050 / ISO 5296; flat belt pulleys are smooth with a slight crown for tracking. Materials: gray cast iron GG25/GG30 (most common, good damping, economical), ductile iron GGG40 (higher strength), welded steel (heavy duty, large diameters), and aluminum alloys (lightweight, high-speed, excellent heat dissipation). Bore mounting: taper-lock bushing, QD bushing, or direct keyway. Standard sizes from 50 mm to 2,000+ mm OD. Balancing required per ISO 1940 for high speeds. Surface finish in grooves: Ra <3.2 μm. Major manufacturers: Optibelt, TB Woods, Martin, Fenner, Megadyne.