# X&Y 9MM GT3 Belt Upgrade **URL:** \ **Category:** Upgrades\ **Created:** [March 31, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935 "2016-03-31T18:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AdamFilipowicz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/adamfilipowicz/32/67601_2.png) [@AdamFilipowicz](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamFilipowicz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/1 "2016-03-31T18:15:18Z")
I am interested in upgrading my Xcarve 1000 with 9mm Wide GT3 Belts. The parts i would buy would include QTY 6 - 9mm White Idlers - [http://openbuildspartstore.com/smooth-idler-pulley-wheel-kit/](http://openbuildspartstore.com/smooth-idler-pulley-wheel-kit/) QTY 3 - 9mm White 20 Tooth GT3 Pulleys - [3GT (GT2-3M) Timing Pulley - 20 Tooth - .250" Bore - 9mm Belt - OpenBuilds Part Store](http://openbuildspartstore.com/gt3-timing-pulley-20-tooth-high-torque-series/) 12ft of GT3 Timing Belt (5mm wide only unfortunately), Looking for 8-9mm wide belt > **[3GT (GT2-3M) Timing Belt - By the Foot](https://openbuildspartstore.com/3gt-gt2-3m-timing-belt-by-the-foot/)** > > SHOP NOW -3GT (GT2-3M) Timing Belt - By the Foot! Fast Shipping from U.S. - Genuine OpenBuilds Parts - #1 Open Source Hardware New Belt Clips will need to be made to hold 9mm white belt. any other issues anyone can see in making this upgrade? ---
**Author:** ![LarryM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/larrym/32/51450_2.png) [@LarryM](https://community.inventables.com/u/LarryM)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/2 "2016-03-31T18:39:55Z")
> [@AdamFilipowicz](#): > > 12ft of GT3 Timing Belt (5mm wide only unfortunately), Looking for 8-9mm wide belt Is this what you are looking for? [http://shop.sdp-si.com/catalog/product/?id=A36R51M027090](http://shop.sdp-si.com/catalog/product/?id=A36R51M027090) ---
**Author:** ![AdamFilipowicz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/adamfilipowicz/32/67601_2.png) [@AdamFilipowicz](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamFilipowicz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/3 "2016-03-31T19:33:16Z")
Yes but that stuff is $3/Inch ouch! ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/4 "2016-03-31T21:21:15Z")
I did the belt (12 feet) and the 3 pulleys, I didn’t bother to replace the idlers… worked great, love the GT3. Don’t forget you have to change $100 and $101 after, since micro step values change ---
**Author:** ![LarryM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/larrym/32/51450_2.png) [@LarryM](https://community.inventables.com/u/LarryM)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/5 "2016-03-31T21:30:25Z")
> [@AdamFilipowicz](#): > > Yes but that stuff is $3/Inch ouch! Uh, I didn’t look at the price. They really do like their stuff. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AlexFelix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@AlexFelix](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlexFelix)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/6 "2016-03-31T21:33:37Z")
What is the improve of this upgrade? ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/7 "2016-03-31T21:48:18Z")
Well, hard to give a simple before\after breakdown with real data points. Prior to the upgrade I was cutting hard maple and oak, and despite having my belt tension set at the recommended 3 lbs, I did get belt slippage somewhat consistently… After adding GT3, and using same feeds and speeds on the same type woods, I’ve not encountered any slippage at all. If I had to categorize the upgrades I’ve done to my XC, GT3 would be at the top, followed by the X axis stiffening mod… ---
**Author:** ![JimButler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@JimButler](https://community.inventables.com/u/JimButler)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/8 "2016-04-01T01:41:35Z")
You can get 9mm wide 3GT belt on eBay. Search 3GT Timing Belt Wide 6mm 9mm 15mm Neoprene GT Belt Pitch 3mm ---
**Author:** ![Michael5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Michael5](https://community.inventables.com/u/Michael5)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/9 "2016-04-01T01:50:41Z")
Sorry to jack the thread… I got new motors today, upgrading from NEMA 17 \> NEMA 23, and I didn’t get pulleys… Since i am ordering new pulleys anyway, how beneficial is the GT3 over the GT2? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![AdamFilipowicz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/adamfilipowicz/32/67601_2.png) [@AdamFilipowicz](https://community.inventables.com/u/AdamFilipowicz)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/10 "2016-04-05T18:41:24Z")
im going with 6mm white GT3 as its easier to get the parts ---
**Author:** ![KevinMyers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/858c86/32.png) [@KevinMyers](https://community.inventables.com/u/KevinMyers)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/12 "2016-05-19T23:17:11Z")
What are the changes, and to where, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![JimButler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@JimButler](https://community.inventables.com/u/JimButler)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/13 "2016-05-28T19:28:23Z")
I got 9mm 3GT belt from ebay. $27.99 for 5meters with free shipping. That comes to about $0.14/inch. Search “3GT Timing Belt Wide 6mm 9mm 15mm Neoprene GT Belt Pitch 3mm Accuracy Position.” The vendor was powge. Good stuff. Works fine. ---
**Author:** ![Devin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/devin/32/19734_2.png) [@Devin](https://community.inventables.com/u/Devin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/14 "2016-06-27T22:35:38Z")
What is the bore size i need for the GT3 pulleys to fit on to my nema 23 motors i got with my x carve? Also i have the 60min x axis stiffening mod. Will this still work? ---
**Author:** ![Devin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/devin/32/19734_2.png) [@Devin](https://community.inventables.com/u/Devin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/15 "2016-06-27T22:36:33Z")
Look at this on eBay [http://www.ebay.com/itm/321932116824](http://www.ebay.com/itm/321932116824) Will this work? ---
**Author:** ![Devin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/devin/32/19734_2.png) [@Devin](https://community.inventables.com/u/Devin)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/16 "2016-06-27T22:46:04Z")
K so i just ordered this Look at this on eBay [http://www.ebay.com/itm/221937443133](http://www.ebay.com/itm/221937443133) Now i need to know exactly what pulleys to buy. I see the part list on the begining of this thread says the bore is .25"? Can some one just post the link to the pulleys that fit this belt and my x carve. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![ErikJenkins](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/erikjenkins/32/84368_2.png) [@ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJenkins)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/17 "2016-06-27T22:53:57Z")
If you have the acme threaded rod, the pulley on that is an 8mm bore, the rest are 1/4" for nema 23 motors. ---
**Author:** ![Devin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/devin/32/19734_2.png) [@Devin](https://community.inventables.com/u/Devin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/18 "2016-06-28T00:24:12Z")
I do have the acme rod. I was thinking to just leave the z axis alone. Is that a good idea? If not then i will have to find the right size closed loop belt for the GT3 pulleys ---
**Author:** ![ErikJenkins](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/erikjenkins/32/84368_2.png) [@ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJenkins)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/19 "2016-06-28T00:25:11Z")
Do the rest, see how it works…you can always change out the Z at a later date. ---
**Author:** ![DarrylKegg](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/darrylkegg/32/84315_2.png) [@DarrylKegg](https://community.inventables.com/u/DarrylKegg)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/20 "2016-06-28T00:53:57Z")
I did the X and Y, but left Z alone and I’m happy I didn’t bother with it… X and Y upgrades will give you the biggest bang for your buck. ---
**Author:** ![Devin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/devin/32/19734_2.png) [@Devin](https://community.inventables.com/u/Devin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935/22 "2016-07-06T16:11:19Z")
> [@DarrylKegg](#): > > I didn’t bother to replace the idlers… worked great, I got the GT3 20 tootb pulleys the 9mm 3mm pitch timing belt I sorta did a “dry fit” and it looks like the belt is too wide for my idler smooth pulley. Am i missing something? I have the x carve 1000mm kit with dewalt router. [Next page](https://community.inventables.com/t/x-y-9mm-gt3-belt-upgrade/21935.md?page=2)