Smaller cables should yield a lower cost due to lower core gum volume. You are replacing steel cord volume for rubber core gum volume.

If the cable is large enough you might be able to do it with a single step splice. How large do you need to go? Larger than 7.0 mm unless you change the steel cord material.

I disagree with your selections:

1. 6.2 dia. could be accomplished with 90 cables and 12.74 mm pitch, a two step splice, so why doesn't the belt manufacturers give you better advice. You can do it with less with the right steel cord construction.

2. 7.0 dia. may take 74 cables and 15.5 mm pitch, but, still needs a 2-Step splice. No advantage to 7.0 mm diameter cables. A single or more steps requires a minimum of 0.25 :1 splice core gum gap: cable diameter. For smaller splices this should be increased to 0.35 or larger to carry a respectible shear stress between cables.

We are getting into splice design techniques, which is a big subject and has many points of view, outside your intented question.

Regards, ■