Was wondering what would happen if you tried to glue/attach a GT3 timing belt to a flat surface (on top of a extrusion for example) and run the pulley on top of that, just like in a rack/pinion system. Is that a DOA-type idea?
While it could be done it wouldn’t have much grip. One of the experiments I tried this with was a time lapse slider for a GoPro using a lego gear for the pinion. Workable but really only had enough grip to support the weight of a GoPro.
The problem would be "number of teeth engaging the belt" you'd only have one or two teeth engaged. With belt looping around pulley you have 25-50% of the total toothcount engaged with the belt (depending on angle, looped belt vs pinion style)
Basically this is what a dual belt setup is. Martin Barfoed has great videos on the subject. Cheers Gary
