2½” Pitch Chip Conveyor in a Space-Saving Frame
Sometimes the application needs a 2½” pitch belt but the available space doesn’t have room for an 8½” deep frame. The SteelTrak™ 722 solves this with a 6⅝” deep frame that brings the full 2½” pitch SteelTrak platform into tighter installations—under lower machine discharge points, alongside equipment where a standard-depth conveyor won’t fit, or in retrofit situations where the original machine layout was designed before chip conveyor clearance was considered.
The 722 isn’t just a smaller frame bolted onto a standard belt. The entire conveyor is proportioned for the compact profile: ⅞” high cleats (vs. 1⅜” on the 721), 1″ high sidewings (vs. 1½”), and a 5-tooth sprocket with a 4.25″ pitch diameter (vs. the 721’s 6-tooth, 5″ P.D.). This creates a conveyor that fits where the 721 cannot while still delivering the scrap handling capability that a 2½” pitch belt provides.
Specifications and Construction
The 722/726 uses a 2½” pitch hinged steel belt with a one-piece apron, ⅞” high cleats on 12½” centers, and 1″ high sidewings. The 1½” diameter rollers provide smooth belt travel, and TruTrak flanged rollers are available as an option to eliminate side-to-side belt movement. Outside sidebars are required on belts wider than 18″ and optional for narrower widths.
The frame is 6⅝” deep, formed from 12-gauge steel—the same frame depth used on the 1½” pitch Model 715, but paired with a 2½” pitch belt that handles a wider range of chip sizes and types. Standard belt widths include 6″, 8″, 12″, 18″, 24″, 30″, and 36″ with custom widths available. Lengths depend on the application. Standard curves include 30, 45, and 60 degrees.
The standard drive is ½ HP (230/460V, 3-phase, 60 Hz, TEFC), top mount on the right side, at 30 FPM. Z-shape, L-shape, and horizontal configurations are available.
When Space Drives the Decision
The 722 exists for situations where the 721’s 8½” frame depth won’t work. That extra 1⅞” of frame depth might seem minor on paper, but in machine-tool environments where every inch of clearance matters, it can be the difference between a conveyor that fits and one that doesn’t. Common scenarios include retrofit installations under existing machines that weren’t designed for chip conveyors, compact CNC cells where floor space is at a premium, machines with low discharge points that sit close to the floor, and installations where adjacent equipment or structural elements limit the vertical space available for a conveyor frame.
If the 8½” frame fits, the 721 provides a higher drive shaft, taller cleats, taller sidewings, and a larger sprocket—all of which contribute to higher load capacity. But when the space requires a shallower frame, the 722 delivers the 2½” pitch belt pitch, SteelTrak quality, and TruTrak compatibility that the application needs.
722 (Open Frame) vs. 726 (Liquid-Tight)
The Model 722 is the open frame version for dry or minimally wet chip applications. The Model 726 adds a liquid-tight bottom pan for CNC machining operations where chips are saturated with coolant or cutting fluid. Marine bearings are available for liquid-tight applications. Additional options include bolt-on bottom pans, drain plugs, drain holes, and quench tanks.
722 vs. 721: Choosing the Right Frame Depth
Both models use a 2½” pitch belt and 12-gauge frame, but the 722 is proportioned for a shallower profile. The 721 has an 8½” deep frame, 1⅜” cleats, 1½” sidewings, a 6-tooth sprocket, and a 1-7/16″ drive shaft. The 722 has a 6⅝” deep frame, ⅞” cleats, 1″ sidewings, a 5-tooth sprocket, and a lighter drive system.
Choose the 721 when the 8½” frame fits and you want maximum chip volume capacity, taller cleats for better scrap retention on inclines, and a heavier drive shaft for longer runs. Choose the 722 when the frame depth must stay under 7 inches, the chip load is light to medium, and the priority is fitting a 2½” pitch conveyor into a space that’s too tight for the standard frame.
Options and Accessories
The 722/726 supports the full SteelTrak accessory catalog: perforated aprons, pimpled belt surfaces, radial sidewings, impact bars (top and bottom mounted), recessed cleats, cut-back cleats, center land dividers, top covers, automatic chain oilers, access panels, side-mounted drive, custom infeed hoppers, discharge chutes, optional side rails, floor supports, castered floor supports with floor locks, and custom paint colors.