What is a flange connection? A flange is a protruding ring, collar or lip at the end of a shaft, pipe or other mechanical component. These rings or collars help add strength, stiffness and stability to connections. In the case of couplings, this non-positive connection of screws inserted through a pitch circle leads to fast […]
How are bellows couplings made?
Bellows couplings consist of 2 basic elements—stainless steel bellows and two hubs. The hubs are usually made of steel, stainless steel or aluminum. Manufacturers often add a coating of zinc or nickel plating or other hardening finishes to protect the surfaces of the hubs. Perhaps the most important aspect of making a bellows coupling, is […]
Changing gears: elastomeric couplings shift focus to simplicity
By Matt Bamford, Tyler Coffey and Johannah Nelson, The Timken Company Edited by Mike Santora While inconspicuous, couplings have long been essential for facilitating the transfer of power within machines and equipment. Gear couplings, a type of flexible coupling, are particularly popular in industrial applications where they transmit high torque loads and tolerate moderate misalignment. […]
Thin line shaft collars for encoders
Encoders often require a custom shaft collar to meet their size and performance requirements. Ruland has designed thin line shaft collars with a narrow profile and reduced weight to meet the requirements of encoder applications in a standard product line. Thin line shaft collars offer encoder manufacturers greater design flexibility than traditional shaft collars. Each […]
What is a Rzeppa joint?
While working as an engineer for Ford Motor company, Alfred Hans Rzeppa created his constant velocity joint in 1926 and patented it the following year. The Rzeppa joint is a specific type of constant velocity joint—the ball and socket design involves 6 balls working with inner and outer races to transmit constant velocity torque from […]
What is an indirect drive?
When choosing a coupling, the type of drive system we’re dealing with is an important consideration. In an indirect drive system, drive trains are not connected on the same axis. The driving side’s axis of rotation is parallel to the load side’s axis of rotation. Chains, belts or other components transmit torque depending on the […]
Simple rubber washer prevents shaft collars from getting stuck on shafts
Amacoil/Uhing has introduced the Elasto-Ring washer for use with U-Clip quick release shaft collars. Elasto-Ring installs by hand with no tools required and assures easy removal of the U-Clip collar. When a U-Clip is placed on a shaft to hold a reel or core in place, the reel or other object begin secured, can create […]
What is a vibration-damping safety coupling?
Malfunctions happen. And when they do, damage and repair costs follow. Safety couplings are the mechanical connecting elements designed to protect other machine components surrounding a drive system. When a malfunction occurs, safety couplings help keep the damage to a minimum. Safety couplings include torque limiters to handle mechanical overload. In disconnect types, torque limiters […]
Belden Universal achieves AS9100C aerospace quality certification
Belden Universal announces that it has achieved AS9100C aerospace quality certification. The AS9100C certification, issued by SAE International, is the highest of global standards for quality assurance in the Aircraft, Space and Defense (AS&D) industries. It combines quality standards for both European and US aerospace manufacturing. Belden’s newly formalized AS9100 qualification is scarce among universal […]
New web store for couplings
Servometer is pleased to announce its new line of precision motion control bellows couplings and rugged beam couplings are now available for purchase through their newly launched e-commerce site www.servometer.com These flexible shaft couplings are capable of accommodating misalignments for parallel, angular and axial motion or combinations of all three motions. They feature low side […]