Profab Machine CNC machines 304 and 316L stainless steel pulleys for timing drives, V-belt drives, food-grade conveyors, and marine rigging. We make custom outside diameters, bores, keyways, tooth profiles, and finishes, from a single prototype to a production run.
A pulley is a grooved or toothed wheel that carries a belt, rope, or cable, and it either transmits motion or redirects a load. A timing pulley has teeth for a toothed belt, a V-belt pulley has angled grooves that grip by friction, and a sheave block guides a rope or wire.
Stainless steel is chosen where washdown, salt, or chemicals would corrode aluminium or carbon steel, and where the drive must also stay clean.
The pulley type determines the belt or rope it mates with, the tooth or groove geometry, and whether it transmits synchronous motion, transmits power by friction, or redirects a load. A mismatched type wears quickly and can cause belt skip or rope fatigue, so choose the type first and then the size.
A stainless steel single pulley redirects a rope or cable for light-to-medium lifting and routing. Send the working load for a review. We machine the groove radius to about 0.53 times the rope diameter, which gives the rope a bearing surface and avoids pinching. It suits food plants and pharmaceutical areas that want an easy-to-clean single pulley.
Two sheaves in one stainless steel double pulley housing give mechanical advantage and reduce the force needed to lift. The sheaves turn independently, and the housing is available in 316L for chemical and marine areas. Send the rope size and the working load so we can review the design.
Angled flanks grip the belt by friction as tension rises. We machine SPZ, SPA, SPB, and SPC grooves, and we work to the ISO 4183 groove form on your drawing. It suits industrial drives in washdown and corrosive areas.
A swivel eye lets the pulley turn as the load direction changes, so the rope is less likely to twist. We make it in 316L for marine, offshore, and outdoor rigging.
Belt pitch and tooth profile are two independent specifications. A 5 mm pitch pulley exists in both HTD and GT profile geometries, and the two are not interchangeable. Specify both pitch and profile when you order a timing pulley.
| Profile | Pitch | Tooth Shape | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| MXL | 2.032 mm (0.080 in) | Trapezoidal | Light instruments and small equipment |
| GT2 | 2 mm | Curvilinear | Servo and precision automation |
| HTD 3M | 3 mm | Rounded HTD | Light robotics and conveyors |
| GT3 | 3 mm | Curvilinear | Robotics and medical devices |
| HTD 5M | 5 mm | Rounded HTD | General servo and packaging |
| HTD 8M | 8 mm | Rounded HTD | High-torque drives and conveyors |
| T5 | 5 mm | Trapezoidal | Office and light-duty equipment |
| T10 | 10 mm | Trapezoidal | General industrial drives |
| AT5 and AT10 | 5 and 10 mm | Trapezoidal (higher strength) | Precision indexing |
| Custom | Per drawing | Per drawing | OEM and special drives |
GT2 and GT3 profiles are not HTD, because the tooth geometry differs at the root radius and the flank angle. Specify the number of teeth, the pitch, and the profile when you order a timing pulley. For V-belt pulleys, specify the belt profile (SPZ, SPA, SPB, SPC, or A, B, C, D), the pitch diameter, and the number of grooves.
A bore that is too loose lets the pulley run out of true and can wear the belt teeth unevenly. Give us the shaft size and fit class with your order.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Standard bore tolerance | H7 (0 to +0.012 mm for 3 to 6 mm bores, 0 to +0.015 mm for 6 to 10 mm, 0 to +0.018 mm for 10 to 18 mm) |
| High-precision bore | H6 (0 to +0.008 mm for 3 to 6 mm bores, 0 to +0.009 mm for 6 to 10 mm, 0 to +0.011 mm for 10 to 18 mm), on request |
| Keyway | DIN 6885 or ISO 3912, machined |
| Set screw bore | Key plus two set screws |
| Taper-lock bore | Taper-lock bush sizes on request |
| Custom bore | From your drawing |
| Runout | We check the bore and the face against your drawing before shipping |
A pulley sold only as "stainless steel" may be 410 (magnetic, low corrosion resistance), 430 (moderate), or 304/316L austenitic. In food and chemical areas the grade has a large effect on pulley life. Name the grade on the order.
304 is the usual grade for timing and V-belt pulleys in food processing, pharmaceutical packaging, and general industry, where cleaning is periodic and chlorides are absent. It welds well, which suits conveyor pulley drums.
316L is the grade where chlorides are present, such as chloride washdown, coastal and marine installs, chemical drives, and hypochlorite sanitizing. Its 2 to 3% molybdenum gives a PREN of about 24, which helps the bore-to-shaft joint and the keyway, where moisture collects.
17-4PH is for small timing pulleys under high torque and speed, and for thin sections where 304 or 316L lacks strength. It is available on request in the temper you name, such as H900.
Polishing, passivation, and electropolishing are available for stainless steel pulleys when a hygienic surface is required.
Stainless steel pulleys are chosen where carbon steel or aluminium would corrode, contaminate the product, or fail a hygiene audit. They also suit drives that need dimensions documented to a drawing.
Flat-face and crowned 304 stainless steel conveyor pulleys carry the belt on meat, poultry, and seafood lines with daily washdown. 316L suits hypochlorite sanitizing.
316L stainless steel timing pulleys drive tablet presses, index filling machines, and carry cleanroom conveyors, where the surface must wash clean. 17-4PH suits small, high-speed medical drives.
316L sheave blocks suit yacht running rigging, cargo handling, and offshore cable guides, with the groove radius matched to the rope.
Stainless HTD 5M and GT3 timing pulleys suit packaging lines and servo gantries in washdown areas, where aluminium pulleys can corrode in the bore.
316L V-belt pulleys for pump and fan drives resist acid fumes and chlorides that corrode carbon steel. A solid bar pulley has no weld seam for chemical attack to undercut.
316L stainless steel sheave blocks route the cables on glass facade tensioning and retractable roofs. Electropolishing gives a mirror or satin finish.
Work through these points before you request a quote, and send what you know.
| Factor | What to Confirm | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pulley type | Timing, V-belt, or rope sheave | The type decides the groove or tooth form. |
| Belt or rope | Profile and pitch, belt section, or rope diameter | The groove must match it exactly. |
| Size | Number of teeth or pitch diameter, and width | Teeth count sets the ratio. |
| Bore and keyway | Bore size, tolerance, keyway, or taper bush | The fit decides runout and key wear. |
| Grade | 304, 316L, or 17-4PH | The environment and load set the grade. |
| Finish | As machined, polished, or electropolished | A hygienic surface may need polishing. |
| Load and speed | Torque, speed, and working load | They decide the section and whether 17-4PH is needed. |
We CNC machine your stainless steel pulleys ourselves, so you deal directly with the factory. Tiered pricing is available on larger orders.
Send a CAD file, a sample, or a drawing with tolerances, and our engineers will review the groove, the bore, and the keyway before cutting metal. Samples are typically ready in about 20 days.
Pricing is tiered by order quantity, so the price per pulley falls as the quantity rises. We are glad to talk through terms for long-term partnerships.
Not seeing your question? Email us at [email protected] and we typically reply same day.
On a stainless steel sheave block for wire rope, the groove radius should be approximately 0.53 to 0.55 times the rope nominal diameter. This provides adequate rope bearing surface without pinching the outer wires, and a groove radius smaller than 0.53 times concentrates the rope contact onto a small arc, which accelerates fatigue wear and corrosion at the contact zone.
We machine the pulley body, the hub, the bore, and the shaft interfaces to your drawing. Bearings, shafts, and housings can be quoted with the pulley. Tell us the assembly you need and we will confirm what is included.
H7 is our usual bore tolerance. It gives a clearance fit on an h6 shaft, so the pulley slides on and is located by the keyway or set screw, and it is correct for most pulley-to-shaft applications. Ask for H6 when the drive needs a tighter fit.
Give the number of teeth, the pitch, and the profile (HTD, GT2, GT3, or trapezoidal), plus the bore, the keyway or set screw, and the width. The teeth are not interchangeable between profiles.
304 suits routine washdown without chlorides, and 316L is the choice where hypochlorite, salt, or acid is present. Tell us the cleaning chemistry and we will confirm.
Send the teeth, pitch, and profile or groove type, plus the bore, keyway, and grade, and a drawing or sample.
Our engineers review your pulley request or drawing and send you a specific quote within 24 hours.
Standard lead time for pulleys is 30 days. Custom designs are sampled before the full production run.
We ship pulleys by sea, air, or express courier. A tracking number follows once the order ships.
We support small-batch and prototype runs with no hard minimum order quantity. A first prototype run is typically around 100 pieces.
If you already have drawings, email [email protected] directly and we will quote from them.
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