Buy Double-Sided Timing Belts Online in Australia
Double-Sided Timing Belt Selection — Quick Reference (Twin Power)
Double-sided (twin-power) timing belts have synchronous tooth profiles on BOTH inner + outer belt surfaces — power transfer from either face in same drive. Used for serpentine multi-shaft drives where standard single-sided timing belt geometry can't accommodate the layout.
| Belt Spec | Best For | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Gates HTD Twin Power (5M) | Multi-shaft + serpentine drives — 5mm pitch | Light industrial automation |
| Gates HTD Twin Power (8M) | Medium industrial multi-shaft — 8mm pitch | Production conveyor + automation |
| Gates HTD Twin Power (14M) | Heavy industrial multi-shaft — 14mm pitch | Heavy power transmission + serpentine |
| Gates GT3 Twin Power | Modified curvilinear — higher capacity | ~30% more power than HTD same pitch |
When to use double-sided: Multi-shaft serpentine drives where the belt wraps around back-side pulleys (e.g. 3+ pulleys on the same belt loop). Standard single-sided belts can only drive on one face. Double-sided allows ALL pulleys to engage their teeth on the belt — even back-bent ones. Critical: tooth pitch on both faces must match the pulleys — same pitch matched. Brand: Gates. Companion: all belts, single-sided timing belts, timing pulleys, timing belt guide.
Double-Sided Timing Belts
Double-sided (or twin-power) timing belts have synchronous tooth profiles moulded on both the inner and outer belt surfaces, allowing power to be taken off from either face in the same drive. AIMS Industrial stocks Gates double-sided synchronous belts for complex multi-shaft drive arrangements where standard single-sided timing belts are not sufficient.
When Double-Sided Timing Belts Are Used
In a standard synchronous belt drive, the belt runs on its toothed face against all driven pulleys. When a drive requires the belt to wrap around a back-side idler or a driven shaft positioned on the outer (flat) face of the belt, a single-sided belt provides no positive engagement at that point. Double-sided belts solve this by providing teeth on both faces, enabling drives with:
- Multiple shafts driven from both faces of the belt in a serpentine layout
- Reverse-direction driven shafts from the outer belt surface
- Complex multi-spindle packaging, textile and printing machine drives
- Agricultural machinery with multiple PTO shaft arrangements
Gates Double-Sided Belt Profiles
Gates double-sided timing belts are available in HTD (High Torque Drive) and PowerGrip GT profiles. HTD provides higher torque capacity with a rounded tooth profile. PowerGrip GT (Gates Tooth profile) offers even higher load capacity and reduced backlash for precision positioning applications. Both are available in standard pitch spacings (3M, 5M, 8M, 14M for HTD; 2GT, 3GT, 5GT, 8MGT for GT) and a range of widths.
For help selecting the right double-sided timing belt profile and size for your drive, contact our team. AIMS Industrial has been supplying Australian industry since 1988.
People Also Ask — Double-Sided Timing Belts
Q: Why would a drive need teeth on both sides of a timing belt instead of one?
When a drive requires the belt to wrap around a back-side idler or a driven shaft positioned on the outer face of the belt, a single-sided belt provides no positive engagement at that point — double-sided belts solve this with teeth on both faces, enabling serpentine, multi-shaft, and reverse-direction drive layouts.
Q: What's the advantage of a PowerGrip GT profile over HTD for a double-sided timing belt?
PowerGrip GT (Gates Tooth profile) offers higher load capacity and reduced backlash compared to HTD, which makes it better suited to precision positioning applications where backlash would affect accuracy.
Q: What kind of machinery actually needs a double-sided timing belt?
Complex multi-spindle packaging, textile and printing machine drives, and agricultural machinery with multiple PTO shaft arrangements are typical applications — anywhere a serpentine layout drives shafts from both faces of the belt.
Q: Are double-sided timing belts limited to special non-standard sizes?
No — Gates double-sided timing belts are available in the same standard pitch spacings as single-sided belts: 3M, 5M, 8M and 14M for HTD, and 2GT, 3GT, 5GT and 8MGT for PowerGrip GT, across a range of widths.
Q: What's the actual mechanical difference between the HTD and GT tooth profiles?
HTD (High Torque Drive) uses a rounded tooth profile that provides higher torque capacity, while PowerGrip GT (Gates Tooth profile) offers even higher load capacity and reduced backlash for precision positioning applications.