Reverse Engineering · 8 min read
Which Belt Should You Use on a Can Washing Line — and Can It Be Copied From a Sample?
Written bySpringSales Director, JBL Mesh Belt · 16 years in metal conveyor beltsProjects in United Kingdom · USA · Australia · Brazil · South Korea · Spain · MalaysiaPublished 
Your can washing line runs wet all day. The belt needs replacing, and all you have is the old belt. No drawing, no part number.
Short answer
Yes, it can be copied from a sample. Read pitch, rod, flat strip and edge on the old belt, then choose the steel for the washing conditions. For a can washing line in Australia we matched pitch 25.4 mm, rod 3.0 mm and strip 1.2 × 9.5 mm in SUS316L.
At a Glance
| Decision | What decides it | Can washing line, Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Belt type | The original belt | Flat wire belt |
| Pitch | The original belt | 25.4 mm (25.41 mm on the sample) |
| Rod and strip | Load and the original belt | Rod 3.0 mm · strip 1.2 × 9.5 mm |
| Edge | How the original belt was built | Clenched |
| Material | Washing conditions | SUS316L |
Below I explain how I read a flat wire belt sample, why the edge matters, and how this compares with a strict-drawing flat wire project in the USA.
01What do you measure on a flat wire belt sample?
A flat wire belt is made of formed flat strips joined by cross rods. Each part has a size that matters.
Short answer
Measure pitch, cross rod diameter, flat strip thickness and height, the opening, and the edge type. On the Australian sample: pitch 25.41 mm, rod 2.97 mm, strip 1.21 × 9.50 mm, clenched edge.
| Reading on the sample | Value | Specified |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | 25.41 mm | 25.4 mm |
| Cross rod | 2.97 mm | 3.0 mm |
| Flat strip thickness | 1.21 mm | 1.2 mm |
| Flat strip height | 9.50 mm | 9.5 mm |
| Opening | 27.00 mm | — |
Australia, 2022. The bulk rod read 3.00 mm.
A used rod can read slightly under its design size; 2.97 mm was specified as 3.0 mm, and the bulk belt read 3.00 mm.
02Why does 25.41 mm matter?
Odd-looking readings are often inch values. Rounding them the metric way can put the new belt out of step.
Short answer
25.41 mm is 1 inch (25.4 mm). When a reading lands on an inch value, the belt was probably designed in inches, and the new belt should keep that pitch so it matches the line's original pitch.
| Reading | Inch value | Project |
|---|---|---|
| 25.41 mm pitch | 1 in | Australia, can washing |
| 12.70 mm strip height | ½ in | USA, fish freezing |
| 25.40 mm sprocket tooth pitch | 1 in | USA, fish freezing |
The line was built to an inch drawing, and the belt has to follow it. If I rounded 25.41 mm to 25 mm, the new belt would no longer match the original pitch of the line.
That is why I write both the reading and the specified value in the table. You can see exactly what we kept and why.
03Clenched or welded edge — which one do you need?
Copy the edge of the original so the belt fits the line the same way.
Short answer
Copy the edge of the original belt. The Australian can washing belt had a clenched edge, where the rod ends hook around the edge strip. The US fishing-vessel belt had a washer-welded edge. Both were matched to the customer's original.
| Edge | How it is made | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Clenched | Rod ends bent into a hook around the edge strip | Australia, can washing (SUS316L) |
| Washer-welded | A washer welded on each rod end | USA, onboard fish freezing (SUS304) |
Which edge is better depends on your line, so I do not change it on a replacement unless you ask. If you want to change it, it goes on the drawing for your approval.
Our flat wire belt page shows the edge options: washer welded, rod welded or clinched (clenched).
04Why 316L for a can washing line?
A washing line keeps the belt wet all day. The steel grade is part of the specification, not an extra.
Short answer
The Australian can washing belt was made in SUS316L. Grade 316 adds molybdenum to 304, which generally improves resistance to pitting in wet, chloride-containing conditions. The final grade is chosen for your washing chemistry.
| Grade | Typical use in our projects | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SUS304 | Freezing, cooling, frying, general food lines | USA fish freezing; Libya chip fryer |
| SUS316L | Wet, washing and more corrosive lines | Australia can washing |
I do not choose the grade from a catalogue. I ask what the line washes with, how hot it runs and how long the belt stays wet. Then the grade goes on the specification, and the material is checked before shipment.
See how we check grades in our stainless steel material verification guide.
05Sample or drawing — which is the better starting point?
Both work. They answer different questions, and some projects need both.
Short answer
A sample shows how the original was really built; a drawing shows what it must be. The Australian can washing belt was copied from a sample alone. The US fishing-vessel belt needed the drawing and a sample, plus a trial run.
| Australia, can washing | USA, fish freezing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Customer's sample only | Strict drawing + original sample |
| Key readings | Sample: pitch 25.41 · rod 2.97 · strip 1.21 × 9.50 mm | Finished belt: pitch 27.40 · rod 5.00 · strip 1.60 × 12.70 mm |
| Edge | Clenched | Washer-welded |
| Material | SUS316L | SUS304 |
| Quantity | About 61 m in two rolls | About 700 m |
If your drawing sets bend radii or a no-burr rule, read how a flat wire belt was made to a strict OEM drawing. If you only have the old belt, read how to copy a worn belt from a sample.
Either way, send what you have. A photo with a caliper in it is enough to start.
When This Is Not the Right Choice
- ✕If your washing chemistry is unknown, I will ask for it before confirming the grade — I do not guess materials.
- ✕A flat wire belt is open; very small parts may need a tighter mesh.
- ✕If the sample is badly worn, also send a sprocket or a less-worn section so the pitch can be confirmed.
From My Engineering Experience
This customer had only the old belt. That was enough: pitch, rod, strip and edge were all on the sample.
The reading I trust least is the used rod. 2.97 mm told me 3.0 mm, and the bulk belt read 3.00 mm.
The reading I respect most is the pitch. 25.41 mm meant 1 inch, and keeping it is what keeps the new belt on the line's original pitch.
— Spring, Sales Director, JBL Mesh Belt
Evidence From Our Work
Australia, 2022 — 316L flat wire belt for a can washing line →
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Customer's sample — no drawing |
| Readings | Pitch 25.41 · rod 2.97 · strip 1.21 × 9.50 mm |
| Belt supplied | SUS316L, clenched edge, pitch 25.4, rod 3.0, strip 1.2 × 9.5 mm |
| Quantity | About 61 m in two rolls |
USA, 2024 — flat wire belt for onboard fish freezing →
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Strict drawing + original sample |
| Finished-belt readings | Pitch 27.40 · rod 5.00 · strip 1.60 × 12.70 mm |
| Edge · material | Washer-welded · SUS304 |
FAQ
Q1Can you make a can washing belt from a sample?
Yes. In this project pitch, rod, flat strip and edge were read on the customer's sample and turned into a specification.
Q2Which material was used?
SUS316L stainless steel for the can washing line.
Q3What is a clenched edge?
The rod ends are bent into a hook around the edge strip instead of being welded. It was copied from the customer's original belt.
Q4Why keep the pitch at 25.4 mm instead of 25 mm?
25.41 mm is 1 inch. The line was built to that pitch, and the new belt must keep the line's original pitch.
Q5Do I need a drawing?
No. A sample or caliper photos are enough to start; a drawing helps when the line has strict requirements.
Conclusion
A sample is enough to copy a can washing belt. Keep the original pitch and edge, and choose the steel for your washing conditions.
Download the Flat Wire Belt Technical Specification (PDF)
Specification ranges and options in mm and inch. Enter your work email and the file downloads right away.
References
Your contact for this belt
Spring · Sales Director, JBL Mesh Belt · 16 years
“Your belt is worn, the OEM price is high, and there is no drawing. That is where I start.”
Send me a worn section, a few photos with a caliper in the picture, or a drawing. I tell you what fits, what is missing, and show you a sample measured against your own belt before you pay for the full length. Buyers in the UK, the USA, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Spain and Malaysia have replaced belts this way.
- ✓Readings on your original next to readings on our sample
- ✓Nothing in bulk until you approve the sample
- ✓Turning, stacking or sprocket tests before your belt ships
- ✓A reply from me, usually within 8 hours
