Long before the electrical transmissions that we know today were introduced, people were experimenting with power transmission. The problem with these mechanical transmission systems is that a considerable amount of energy is required to make the machines work, which is not always transferred to the machine; this energy inefficiency has led to the almost exclusive use of electric transmissions. There are, however, several industries that still utilise some mechanical transmissions (i.e. assembly line manufacturing); here is a review of some mechanical power transmission tools and accessories.

The most common application of mechanical transmissions today is the assembly line. The line (belt) itself is situated on rollers; the rollers themselves are not automated, instead, they just help to keep the line moving and even. The main reason that electrical transmissions are not as widely used on assembly lines is that they provide too much power; mechanical transmissions operate at a lower speed, which essentially allows the assembly line workers to be able to keep up with the products on the line.

The most important type of tools for a mechanical transmission is maintenance tools; the machine cannot perform the intended function if the equipment isn’t balanced or isn’t working properly. There are several different maintenance tools available, including those that measure tension in belts; new technologies have simplified these tools-most are hand-held, easy to operate, digital meters that read belt tension. There are many other mechanical power transmission maintenance tools and accessories, such as laser alignment tools for making sure that all belt drives are lined up correctly.