Sidewinder Simply the Best

Explore the extensive capabilities of Sidewinder for a sophisticated and forward-thinking approach to conveyor design.

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Global Users

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Longest Conveyor
Engineered with Sidewinder

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Sidewinder

Software Overview

Sidewinder was developed from the ground up using the latest software development tools and years of conveyor design experience. The user interface and hierarchical structure was thoroughly laid out before development began. This resulted in a flexible program that can easily be upgraded with new features and technology in the future.

Some major features include:

• CEMA 5th, 6th, and 7th edition, DIN 22101, ISO, and other calculation methodologies
• Conveyors of any geometry, length, and drive configuration
• Quick Geometry Input
• Vertical and Horizontal Curve Analysis
• Pipe conveyor calculations
• Pocket / Flexowall Belt conveyors
• Belt Transitions (CEMA, ISO, and the Beckley methods)
• Feeder Belt and pullout force calculations (CEMA, Roberts, Bruff's, Reisner, and Johanson methods are all included)
• Belt Turnover Calculations
• Multiple load cases (inclines, declines, load on/off, custom cases, etc)
• Reversible conveyors and bi-way conveying (material on both carry and return sides)
• Multiple material types (up to 5 different material types and/or properties can be analyzed on a conveyor)
• Complete pulley and shaft sizing (both CEMA, AS-1430 methods)
• Conical & Radial Stockpile Sizing and Reclaim Volume Calculations
• Professional reports (in Microsoft Word format)
• English & Metric Units
• Multiple Languages - Inputs & Outputs (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, German, and more)
• Project summary files & report analysis for multiple conveyors in a single project

…..and much, much more….

One Solution

Multiple Conveyor Types

Slideware has the ability to calculate many different conveyor types including:

• Troughed Belt Conveyors
• Feeder Belts
• Pipe Conveyors
• Pocket Conveyors
• Cable Belt Conveyors
• and more...

Sidewinder

Advanced Calculation Methods and Global Specifications

Conveyor are found around the world. As such Sidewinder can easily perform calculations to suit the particular situation. Both metric and imperial units are included and users can quickly switch between the two with a single mouse click.

Sidewinder includes many different calculation methodologies. These reflect worldwide standards and other region specific specifications. Universally accepted DIN and CEMA standards are included as well as other published methodologies and manufacture recommendations.

Key Features

Easy to Understand Inputs & Outputs

From day one, Sidewinder was design to be easy to use with the calculation and results conveyor engineers are looking for. Whether you’re designing a small in-plant conveyor, or a long overland system, Sidewinder can handle them all.

Sidewinders friendly and easy to understand user interface is unlike anything eles currently available.

A universal input page provides easy access to the most commonly used and relevant input information. Additionally, a single output window allows quick assess to all important output results. Problem areas are highlighted in red or yellow to show potential problem areas.

Microsoft Word & pdf Reports

Professional Engineering Reports

High quality professional output files were at the top of the list when determining the most important engineering features to include in Sidewinder.

A custom report editor is built into the software. More importantly however all reports are exported directly to Microsoft Word documents and Adobe pdf files.

Company logos and other custom information can be included. Belting, idlers, pulleys, brakes, and other major equipment lists are generated. These can be directly supplied to manufactures for quotations and other vendor requests.

Key Features

Multiple Language Support

The software has been design to support multiple languages for non English speaking countries and areas. Furthermore, if we don’t currently support your language we can send you an Excel spreadsheet in which you can fill in with your specific language. We will then implement this directly into the software free of charge!

Microsoft Word & pdf Reports

Integrated System Design

Many conveyor systems have a wide range of operating conditions. These include variations in:

• Material properties and/or multiple material types
• Conveyor load variations (incline or decline sections loaded, load on and off)
• Hot summer time temperatures, to fridge winter conditions
• Belt mass reduction and other changes due to cover wear and environmental factors
• Idler bearing drag and motor efficiencies
• Other factors

The core Sidewinder philosophy has been to treat the conveyor as a "system" of design conditions, rather than as a simple design case. This design philosophy ensures that many conditions which may have otherwise gone unchecked are accounted for in the design phase. For example, belt liftoff is automatically calculated using a "worn" belt mass and the maximum corresponding belt tensions (belt inclines loaded, and high frictional conditions).

This is extremely valuable to both new and experienced engineers as it often highlights problems area which may have otherwise gone unnoticed. A Sidewinder conveyor design therefore results in the most comprehensive conveyor design of any software on the market.

Additionally, a single, simple input table allows all relevant design conditions to be entered. Byway conveying, reversible conveyors, multiple materials and belt speeds, and various loading profiles can all be quickly and easily entered.

Key Features

Easy Conveyor Setup

One of the more difficult aspects of conveyor design is accurately inputting the conveyor profile. Sidewinder has two methods for entering this information.

Easy Profile - Allows a basic conveyor profile to be entered using only a few conveyor elements. All basic information is entered on a single screen and can easily be modified later. Dozens of standard conveyor configurations are available in order to minimum the input requirements for the end user. This is appropriate for most small conveyors (<1000 ft) which have relatively simple profiles.

Vertial Profile - Allows an unlimited number of vertical and horizontal curves to be input. This information can be directly entered, or imported from several standard drawing packages such as AutoCAD. Each conveyor flight is treated individually, and vertical and horizontal curves are automatically subdivided at runtime to provide an accurate representation of the conveyor. This method allows drives, brakes, pulleys, loading points, trippers, and other equipment to be positioned anywhere along either the carry or return sides.

Curves

Vertical Curve Calculations

Both convex and conveyor curve radii are incorporated in the software. Belt lift off, center and edge stresses, belt buckling, and lift off distances are calculated for each concave curve and every load case.

Likewise, belt stresses in convex curves and required idler spacing is also calculated. All cases are them summarized in an easy to read data table, where the users is also alerted of any problem areas.

Key Features

Starting and Stopping
Rigid Dynamics

Relatively long conveyors, or conveyors with large inclines or declines should have a flexible dynamic analysis preformed on them (see dynamic analysis). However, ridged dynamic calculations are often more than adequate for short conveyors, and for preliminary estimation of the dynamic belt tensions and braking requirements.

The ridged dynamic input window of sidewinder allows a wide variety of options and the standard calculations automatically take into account both "operational" stopping conditions, and "emergency stopping conditions".

Starting of the conveyor may be done via a fixed starting time, or by using the maximum motor torque (squirrel cage motor) . Breakaway motor torque is also calculated.

Key Features

Belt Selection &
Design Requirements

Sidewinder has combined a wide range of belting data from several of the leading belting manufactures. This includes properties for both fabric and steel cord belting.

Sidewinders "smart selection" capability will automatically estimate many of the most important belting parameters such as strength, weight, modulus, and type.

Steel cord splice information, belt roll quantities, shipping and storage details, and other relevant belting information is automatically calculated.

Key Features

Pulley Shaft &
Bearing Calculations

Pulley diameters, shaft stresses, bearing loads, allowable turndown ratios, and other important design information is automatically calculated for each pulley. An accurate graphical representation for each pulley is displayed showing belt tensions, wrap angles, and the pulley geometry.

Shaft safety factors and deflections are highlighted in RED to show problem areas. A pulley deign page is also generated in the standard report output.

Key Features

Multiple Material Types & Byway Conveying

Up to five different material types may be entered for a single design. This is not only useful for analyzing worst case design conditions (for example using the lowest material density for maximum cross sectional loading), but also allows when the conveyor will transport more than one material type.

Additionally, the material type is specified at each load station, and therefore the conveyor can be loaded with different materials at the same time (different materials, and tonnages on the carry and return sides for example).

Key Features

Custom Idler Types

Users can choose to use either a standard CEMA idler set, or a custom idler set. Custom idler sets allow up to six independent custom idler rolls to be used. Additionally, each roll is customizable within each idler set. This allows center rolls to have unique properties (length, bearing type, shaft size, etc) from wing or other rolls.

Each conveyor element can have a unique idler set (up to eight different idler sets can be entered). This allows impact idlers, transition idlers, and other idler sets to be entered and included in the output report.

Pipe conveyor design, power consumption, and other other advanced features are also available.

L10 life calculations, bearing and shaft deflections, and other data is calculated for each conveyor element, and then summarized in a single easy to read output table. Standard CEMA series sets, as well as custom SKF, and other manufactures bearing may be entered.

Key Features

Belt Transitions
& Belt Turnovers

Sidewinder not only calculates the required transition lengths, but also outputs the required troughing idlers angles, and packing heights for each transition idler set.

AC-Tek engineers are leaders in developing new conveyor design standards and equations. The calculations for belt turnovers are no different, and have been published by one of AC-Tek's principle engineers, Mr. Lemmon.

These equations are incorporated into the software along with a very easy to information window which allows the engineer to determine the optimal turnover length and other design parameters.

Key Features

Horizontal Curve Calculations

The New 6th edition CEMA manual contains the basic horizontal curves calculations for belt conveyors. These equations and other published methodologies have been implemented into the Sidewinder Software.

Easy to understand graphs showing belt displacements, edge stresses, side guide roll forces, and other critical information is given for each horizontal curve section. Additionally, combined vertical and horizontal curve effects are taking into consideration and well as idler forward tilt and other design options

Key Features

Belt Transitions
& Belt Turnovers

Key Features

Stock Pile Calculations

1. Conical Stockpiles
2. Linear Stockpiles
3. Radial Stackers
4. Multiple Reclaim Points (Circular or slotted)
5. Walls and other boundaries
6. A combination of all of the above! Export files directly to AutoCAD.

Key Features

Stringer Designs

Sidewinder contains many added features to help the conveyor engineer. Stringer layouts, standard channel sizing, deflections, bill of materials, and structural mass calculations are just a few of these features.

PAX Addon

Pulley FEA

The PAX addon is a full 3D finite element software program for conveyor pulley analysis. AC-Tek’s principle engineers have been preforming finite element analysis on conveyor pulleys for over 25 years. They have been involved with the design and optimization of some of the world’s largest pulleys.

Transfer Chute Design

Newton Chute Lite

Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) software for modeling the flow bulk materials through transfer chutes. A wide range of material properties can be analyzed. Chute geometries can be entered parametrically, or imported from a wide range of commercial CAD software.

AC-Tek has several Newton Software products. The most basic (Newton Chute Lite) is included free of charge with all Sidewinder licenses that have a current maintenance plan.

Global leader in the design of overland conveying systems.

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Services

Contact

Minnesota Office
19415 594th Avenue
Mankato, Minnesota 56001 U.S.A

Idaho Office
3911 East 132 North
Rigby, Idaho 83442 U.S.A

Sidewinder Software

Contact Info

Sidewinder Simply the Best

0

years

in Service

0

+

Global Users

0

km

Longest ConveyorEngineered with Sidewinder

0

Countries

Sidewinder

Software Overview

One Solution

Multiple Conveyor Types

Sidewinder

Advanced Calculation Methods and Global Specifications

Key Features

Easy to Understand Inputs & Outputs

Microsoft Word & pdf Reports

Professional Engineering Reports

Key Features

Multiple Language Support

Microsoft Word & pdf Reports

Integrated System Design

Key Features

Easy Conveyor Setup

Curves

Vertical Curve Calculations

Key Features

Starting and StoppingRigid Dynamics

Key Features

Belt Selection &Design Requirements

Key Features

Pulley Shaft &Bearing Calculations

Key Features

Multiple Material Types & Byway Conveying

Key Features

Custom Idler Types

Key Features

Belt Transitions& Belt Turnovers

Key Features

Horizontal Curve Calculations

Key Features

Belt Transitions& Belt Turnovers

Key Features

Stock Pile Calculations

Key Features

Stringer Designs

PAX Addon

Pulley FEA

Transfer Chute Design

Newton Chute Lite

Page Link

Services

Contact

Longest Conveyor
Engineered with Sidewinder

Starting and Stopping
Rigid Dynamics

Belt Selection &
Design Requirements

Pulley Shaft &
Bearing Calculations

Belt Transitions
& Belt Turnovers

Belt Transitions
& Belt Turnovers