# Silly chain question **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware\ **Created:** [September 1, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589 "2017-09-01T21:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589/1 "2017-09-01T21:07:00Z")
@bar, why did you go with the #25 roller chain rather than #40 (aka bicycle chain)? I would expect that bike chain would be cheaper due to being produced in larger quantities, and it should be possible to get small sprockets that fit the #40 chain. Was there a specific reason to go smaller? (am I mistaken in my beliefs above for example) Or was it just a matter of going from the much heavier, multi-width chain you went to the smallest chain available? ---
**Author:** ![iRoc999](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/iroc999/32/25_2.png) [@iRoc999](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/iRoc999)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 10:12am UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589/2 "2017-09-02T10:12:46Z")
It offers the most resolution and still offers the strength of a chain. It’s 2x’s the resolution you would get with a standard #40 bicycle chain. I keep coming back to it would have more resolution with cable not chain. Though this creates a new issue of having to have a spindle long enough and tall enough to accommodate enough cable for full range of motion and attach to the motors. Would need to be custom made. ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589/3 "2017-09-02T20:03:31Z")
how does the size of the links affect the resolution? you aren’t moving the chain one link at a time, you are rotating the sprocket a small amount and paying out part of a link. yes, how the link comes off the sprocket is affected by the size of the link, but how much of a difference does that make? ---
**Author:** ![iRoc999](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/iroc999/32/25_2.png) [@iRoc999](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/iRoc999)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589/4 "2017-09-02T20:49:34Z")
Because the drive sprocket can be smaller. The smaller the drive sprocket circumference the more resolution. Also there is inherent slop in a chain. The closer the pins the less slop. But I’m sure you’ll still doubt me. As you have a couple of times until someone else said the same thing. You’ve also shot down two suggestions that you then praised when someone else suggested it. So here’s a screen shot that says pretty much what I said. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/maslowcnc/original/1X/2895c44ddb5dd3ca1bcab7d4ab04a368755dbd13.jpg) Here’s the link to that page [https://buildyourcnc.com/Item/mechanical-roller-chains-ANSI25-sprocchn](https://buildyourcnc.com/Item/mechanical-roller-chains-ANSI25-sprocchn) And if I find it again I’ll link the video where a guy goes into detail about it, but I watched that video a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![dlang](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/dlang/32/859_2.png) [@dlang](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/dlang)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/silly-chain-question/589/5 "2017-09-02T21:45:49Z")
If it appears that I have been picking on you, my apologies, that is not the case (I usually don’t pay attention to who says something when I respond)