A high percentage of factory machinery is designed in a computer aided design (CAD) virtual environment, often months and sometimes even years before physical manufacture takes place. Factory equipment such as conveyor belt rollers (Förderbandrollen) , drive drums, and conveyor belt fabric may all seem simple on the surface, but small changes in design can have a huge effect on overall performance and efficiency.
There are a large number of CAD software titles on the market, from free open source programs through to expensive commercial applications.
Computer aided design is responsible for the design of most conveyor belt rollers, which are often based on previous designs and tweaked to fit with surrounding machinery and environments. A conveyor belt consists of two or more pulleys and a continuous loop of special material which makes up the belt. The belt rotates around the pulleys, which are either powered or unpowered and help the belt and its contents to move forward. Design and prototyping are important for either powered or unpowered systems, although powered conveyor belt rollers often have extra safety mechanisms and procedures in place.
There are a lot of small measurements involved with conveyor systems, all of which need to be thoroughly tested prior to manufacture. Dedicated CAD virtual environments are the ideal place for factory designers to prototype their designs and make sure that every piece of machinery fits with every other. If one small measurement is out of place an entire production line can come crashing down, making the initial design and testing phase of conveyor systems more crucial than any other.
CAD computer software can vary quite a lot, from simple 2D design environments through to complex 3D applications with animation and motion capabilities. Commercial machinery designers and manufacturers normally require the use of professional and complex 3D software, so that they can ensure compatibility prior to manufacturing. Conveyor belt rollers are used in a wide range of different industries, from large wholesale and maufacturing plants through to smaller retail establishments. This large variety of industries requires a customised approach to design and manufacturing, which makes CAD software an essential aspect in the life cycle of all conveyor belt systems.