high speed positioner..timing belt?

[KTP]

I am considering a new project where I need to position something at fairly high speeds with very light loads. I am thinking a welded steel frame x-y table will work, using shafting and some sort of bearing (probably recirculating ball bearings). For the motion, I was thinking about using timing belt stock and steppers.

1/2" wide XL Urethane belts with kevlar cords in a roll sells for $2.59 a foot at www.mcmaster.com Is there a cheaper source than this? (need about 12 feet total for a 3 foot by 3 foot travel device)

Do you think this is a reasonably cheap way to position a 1lb mass at no more than about 120IPM with accuracy of at least 0.05 inches?

[Bruggles]

The accuracy wouldn't be as good as with precision screws, but it could for sure take the load, as long as your steppers are strong enough. With a 2 in pulley assuming 750rpm you would be able to move almost 5000 in per min, which is probably way too fast, so you will need to gear them down, so you can have more torque instead of speed. I would think that if you set it up correctly you could get .05 inch repeatability easily, I would think you could probably get closer to .02 or even better, just like everything else the better you want it the more money it will cost.