Machining sprockets

[MFGRIMM]

So I got a hold of a 36v 2800rpm unknown-wattage golf cart motor (I think that it might possibly be "2 hp"), and I want to make a belt drive for a cart I'm making. Looking for belt sprockets, though, I realized that belt sprockets are expensive and require some matching/creativity/flexibility to get them to work.

At school, though, I have access to a CNC mill, so I'm thinking I'll try and make my own belt sprockets... but metal = $, and steel is a bit of a pain in the butt to machine. Would I be insane to try and make these sprockets out of Delrin plastic? or is that asking for strippage? Or has anybody found a reasonable set of belt sprockets online?

Thanks for the wisdom.

 

[MFGRIMM]

also, couldn't resist:

Now's the time on Sprockets when we dance.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

a lathe would be a better tool to use, and making it out of plastic would not be a very good idea. Belt "sprockets" (pulleys) are pretty cheap, check out ebay or surpluscenter, or even old riding lawn mowers and mower decks.

 

[MFGRIMM]

Thanks for the tips. I was planning on using the CNC machine because I thought it would be easier to make the teeth on the pulley (I was thinking of a system similar to a motorcycle.) The surpluscenter pulleys, though, are for V-Belts. Do you think a V-belt would work, or would it slip? I guess it's pretty cheap to just buy some and test them out...

As for the plastic, I guess it wouldn't be that hard to pick up some scrap aluminum plate somewhere... getting it thick enough might be tricky, though.