When a conveyor line stops, the first thing said is that the belt failed. In most cases the belt is a casualty, not the cause. The small parts around it decide whether it lasts years or months.
1. Wear strips
The chain or mat does not slide on steel — it slides on UHMW-PE strips. That material has a low friction coefficient, near-zero water absorption and continuous service to around 80 °C. As the strip wears, friction climbs gradually: the motor draws more current, the chain elongates, and then it starts to mistrack. The early warning sign is white powder collecting under the conveyor. If you see it, the strip is wearing now.
2. Sprockets
Every chain and modular series has its own sprockets in specific tooth counts and outside diameters, injection moulded or machined. A sprocket that is not an exact match distributes load incorrectly across the belt's teeth. The uneven wear appears months later, and the belt gets replaced while the wrong sprocket quietly consumes the new one too.
3. Molded idler wheels
Return wheels set tension on the return run. Sizes are standard per series (812, 825, 830, 831, 879, 880, 881). A damaged wheel or wrong size means uneven tension, knocking and noise on the return.
4. Support bases and feet
AISI 304 spindle and nut on a reinforced polyamide base. Their job is to hold the frame perfectly level. A slight twist in the frame translates into permanent mistracking no matter how carefully you tension the belt.
A practical inspection routine
• Weekly: look underneath — powder or filings? Listen at the return point. • Monthly: measure motor current and compare it with the reading taken at installation. A gradual rise means rising friction. • Quarterly: check foot levelling with a spirit level and inspect sprocket teeth from the side.
These parts are relatively cheap and readily available. Replacing them on time costs a fraction of a full belt plus a lost day.
