Shaft Couplings

About shaft couplings

Shaft couplings are mechanical components used to connect two shafts together, transmitting torque while accommodating various degrees of misalignment. Key types include jaw, beam, bellows, Oldham, rigid, and disc couplings. Jaw couplings, often employing an elastomeric spider, provide vibration dampening and moderate misalignment capabilities. Beam couplings are typically machined from a single piece of material, offering high flexibility for angular and parallel misalignment in light-duty applications. Bellows couplings excel in high-precision and high-speed applications, providing zero backlash and accommodating significant angular misalignment. Oldham couplings utilize a central disc to handle parallel misalignment effectively. Rigid couplings are used when precise shaft alignment is critical and no misalignment compensation is desired. Disc couplings, available in single or double disc configurations, offer high torque capacity and zero backlash, suitable for servo applications. Selection criteria include torque rating (Nm), maximum RPM, bore diameter (mm or inches), angular misalignment capacity (°), parallel misalignment capacity (mm), and axial displacement capacity (mm). Common materials include aluminum, stainless steel, and various engineering plastics for spiders, with finishes like anodization or passivation.