Treadmill belt: how is it arranged, and what should be its size?
Anyone who has seen a treadmill at least once knows that its canvas is an endless, looped tape. More advanced cardio users will add that the treadmill is stretched between rollers to keep it moving. On this, knowledge about this important part of the simulator will most likely be exhausted. But in fact, the canvas is a complex product that can have a different design, purpose and properties. This is what we will talk about today.
Let's start with what qualities the running belt of a treadmill should have. First of all, it is strength. When using the simulator, this part of it is subjected to enormous mechanical stress and this happens for many hours every day. Also, the canvas should resist abrasion well. Contact with the soft sole of sneakers only at first glance seems to be gentle. In fact, any service center master will show you a tape worn to holes!
There are other qualities that are less obvious, such as resistance to stretching, good adhesion to shoes, chemical safety, aesthetic appearance, and many others. All these properties of the treadmill canvas are provided by the materials and technologies used in its manufacture.
How are treadmill sheets made?
In the production of canvases, special tapes are used, released specifically for this purpose. An attempt to replace the material with any other, for example, a conveyor belt, will lead to a decrease in the resource of both the part itself and the main components of the cardio simulator: shafts, drive belt, electric motor and electronics. Sports tapes have a multilayer construction.
Their basis is a fabric made of cotton and polyester threads. It is he who provides resistance to stress and stretching. The top layer is polyvinyl chloride. It performs a protective function, protecting the base from friction with the soles of users. Also, it is the coating that guarantees traction with shoes. The connection of the layers occurs under the influence of temperature, which connects them into a single whole. The surface of the canvas can be corrugated and smooth. Of course, corrugated is preferable.
When joining the treadmill belt, two methods can be used:
- Straight seam;
- Zigzag connection (oblique seam).
Since a straight seam is not designed for high loads, it is used to create canvases for inexpensive home treadmills. An oblique seam implies a large length of the connection line and a different distribution of forces. Running belts of this type are extremely tear-resistant. Also, the zigzag connection reduces noise during the operation of the cardio machine. The thing is that the seam passes through the shafts at an angle and does not create vibrations. Zigzag stitched running belts are more expensive than straight stitched ones.
Sizes belt of treadmills
The thickness of the treadmill belt can be from 1.5 to 3 mm. Thick is always preferable, as it is not only more reliable, but also has an additional shock-absorbing effect. In this case, it will not work to use the canvases at your discretion. If the material is thicker than 2.5 mm, then the product can only be used with shafts with a diameter of 30 mm and above.
The width and length of the running belt play a huge role in the effectiveness and comfort of training. It is worth considering that usually the length does not mean the full length along the seam, but only the dimension of the upper part along which the athlete runs. Home treadmills are equipped with modest canvases, ranging in size from 980x340 mm. This is usually not enough for the full use of the simulator by people whose height is above average.
Most home and semi-professional treadmills receive 1200x400 blades. They can already be used even by those whose height reaches up to 190 cm. But for taller users, this may still not be enough. Therefore, there is also an unspoken standard of 1450x450 mm. Professional cardio equipment is usually designed for canvases 1520x550 mm. This is a one-size-fits-all solution.
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