Types - Coupling Information

For information on where you can buy couplings please see the Sourcing page or the links further down this page.

You will find listed below several popular types of shaft coupling and a brief description of their capabilities and properties.

Ball Type	For high speed applications with up to 15 degrees of angular offset. 20000 RPM at up to 5 Degree Operating Angle 10000 RPM at 6 to 10 Degree Operating Angle with a 50% torque reduction 5000 RPM at 11 to 15 Degree Operating Angle with a 66% torque reduction Bore sizes from 1.588mm to 16.000mm Can be supplied with nylon centers for electrical isolation between shafts Torque ranges from 0.17 n.m to 22.60 n.m
Bantam	Isolates vibration up to 85%. Sleeve provides electrical insulation. Parallel Offset 0.25 mm Angular Offset 1.5 Degree Bore sizes from 3.175mm to 7.938mm (limited choices) Rated torque 0.21 n.m at 1725 rpm
Bellows	Two types available. Standard and Hi-Flex for large misalignment compensation. Zero Backlash Constant Velocity Ratio Low Inertia Hi-Flex Bores 2.362mm to 12.700 mm Standard Type Bores 3.000mm to 25.400 mm
BoWex® - Junior	All nylon 2 piece and 3 piece couplings Crowned gear teeth - No need for lubrication Chemical resistant nylon Electrically insulated Grub Screw opposite Keyway Bores from 6.000mm to 24.000mm
BoWex® Tooth Driven	Couples with a toothed sleeve which can be purchased separately. Operating Temp. Range: -25°C to +100°C. Max. Axial Displacement: ±1mm. Max. Angular Displacement (a°): ±1°. Application: Mechanical/ Hydraulic. Can be purchased pilot bored or finish bored. Bores from 8.000mm to 125.000mm.
Clutch Type	Flange or shaft mounted types available. 24 Volt DC Zero Backlash Armature For In-line Loads Enable a transitional speed increase on the driven shaft rather than a hard start. Dynamic torque is 80% of static torque Bores 6.000 to 19.050 mm Also available are Shaft and Flange mounted clutches of similar design which are used primarily for Parallel Loads.
Control Flex™	Aluminium hubs, hardened alloy steel pins. Delrin® 100 centre. Lightweight, low inertia, and no maintenance or lubrication necessary. No change in angular velocity or torque due to misalignment. No end thrust due to torque transmission. Rated torques are with all alignment factors zero. The summation of the three alignment factors should not exceed 50%. The rated torque must be reduced by the summation of the alignment factors. Operating Temperature: -23 deg to +65 deg Celsius Bores 3.175 to 12.700 mm.
Cross Joint	High torsional stiffness in response to slippage of pin and bush. Very low backlash Set screw or split hub locking types. Bushings - Dry Bush Bearing. Stainless Steel Spacers (SUS303) with SCM435 Steel Pins. Aluminium Alloy Hubs. Max temperature 100 Deg C. Bores 4.500 to 20.000 mm.
Crowned Tooth	+/- 1.02 mm Axial Displacement 0.41mm Parallel offset per hub 1 Degree Angular Displacement Free axial movement High torque / low inertia Bores 6.350 to 19.050 mm
Double Disk	Hub and Spacer: Aluminium Alloy Pin and Disc: Stainless Steel Max Axial Play: +/-0.5mm Available in standard and heavy duty Zero Backlash Bores 6.000 to 25.000 mm
Flexible Shaft	Spiral wound wire shaft fitted with coupling ends to allow very flexible joining of shafts. A number of types are available including Standard open type with double coupling ends Enclosed type with coupling ends - the wire shafting is contained inside a plastic cover. Open and enclosed types with a connector for mounting to a panel Available to join shafts upwards from 3.175mm (1/8") to 9.525mm (3/8") Available in both magnetic and non-magnetic materials
Gear Grip	Neoprene with ground OD sleeve Zinc alloy die cast hubs Suitable operating temperature is -28 to 70 Deg. Celsius No lubrication Electrically isolated Dampens shock and vibration Max speed 3500 rpm 1 - 2 Degree of angular misalignment Bores 3.175mm to 12.700mm
Helical	Zero backlash Max. Ang Misalignment 5 Degrees Max Parallel Offset 0.25mm Many types to choose from - standard - low inertia - high precision - short - long Aluminium or stainless steel High speed applications Bores 2.000 to 25.400mm Also known as Spiral Beam or Slit type
Jaw Type	Some models suitable for up to 3600rpm Easy to assemble/disassemble Rubber, Acetal or Polyurethane spiders Aluminium hubs Bores 3.000 to 15.000mm
K Type	Strong, flexible polyurethane or Hyrtel® is cut and tear resistant. Up to 3600 RPM. Urethane type: -20 to +60o C Hyrtel® type : -40 to +100o C Precision swaged mechanically crimped annealed steel hubs Very flexible Bores from 4.762mm to 16.000mm
Multi Jaw	303 Stainless Steel. Stainless socket set screws supplied. Workd by 48 meshed gear teeth of 64 DP pitch. Max Torque 3.5 N.m (500 oz.in). Bores from 3.175mm to 6.350mm.
Neo Flex	303 stainless steel hubs with 73 durometer neoprene centre Shaft to shaft insulation Torsional vibration isolation Ribbed or smooth style. Ribbed style are more flexible than smooth. 0.71 to 1.27 N.m Max Torque Bores from 3.000mm to 6.35mm
Oldham	Max Speed: 3000 RPM Precision and standard types available Maximum Backlash 5' on precision models Parallel out of line compensation Temp Range -20 Deg C to +60 Deg C Standard type provided electrical isolation Standard type: Aluminium hubs with acetal disk. Precision type: 303 stainless steel Peak torque: 0.06 to 44 N.m Bores from 2.000 to 30.000mm standard type Bores from 3.175mm to 9.525mm precision type
Rigid	Two precision classes - commercial or precision Set screw or Fairloc hub locking Materials include Aluminium, 303 stainless or brass Some types have basic through bores for joining same sized shafts whilst others have reducing bores for joining different sized shafts. Bores from 2.286 to 12.700mm.
Rotex®	Middle (flexible spider): Polyurethane 92 Shore A - Yellow. Other spider types available on special order. Hubs: Steel, Aluminium or Cast Iron. Operating Temp. Range: -40°C to +100°C - MAX Temp 120°C Power transmission with torsional vibration damping. Axial plug-in. Easy assembly Bores from 6.000 to 110.00mm
Single Disk	High response High torque Zero backlash High torsional stiffness 2000 to 10000 rpm 0.70 to 12.50 N.m maximum torque Bores from 6.000 to 25.400mm
Sleeve Type	Polyethylene Sleeve Acetal hub Aluminium Alloy Insert 0.21 to 2.10 N.m at 1750 rpm Bores from 3.175 to 12.700mm
Slip	For tension control Transmission overload protection Coupling is sliped over one shaft and screws tightened Second shaft is inserted into other end Loose end of coupling is pulled back about 0.5mm then screws tightened Serves as a torque limiter as well as a coupling Long life under continuous slip applications Up to 1.695 N.m upper torque limit. Bores from 3.000 to 16.000mm.
Slit	Similar to Helical type but listed separately due to having a different range of sizes available. Aluminium or Stainless Steel High Torsional Stiffness Very flexible Zero backlash Up to 2o angular offset Maximum torque from 0.1 to 35 N.m depending on size High speed up to 48000 rpm for smaller sizes Bores from 2.000 to 30.000mm
Spider	Split Type Hub Preloaded Rubber Spider Minimal backlash Choice of 3 different spiders for each size provides for different torque requirements Hubs and spiders available separately or as a complete unit 2.2 to 17 N.m rated torque depending on size Bores from 5.000 to 16.000mm
Spline	Angular Misalignment: 2 Deg. Parallel Offset: 0.2 Deg. High RPM up to 24000 for size 16 Electrically Isolated Dampens Shock & Vibration No lubrication required Operating temperature -30o C to 100o C. Sold as separate hubs and splines or as a complete coupling. Rated torque 0.5 to 4.5 N.m depending on size. Bores from 3.000 to 14.000mm
Spring	303 Stainless Spring Aluminium Alloy Hub High angular displacement of 20o 0.76mm Parallel offset. Protects gear and timing drives from excessive shock loads Suitable for high speed drives. Max torque 1.4 N.m Bores from 3.175 to 6.350mm
Torque Tube	Internal compression spring preloads the ends against axial movement and backlash Maximum Torque: 2.8 N.m (25 lb.in) Delrin Torque Tube. Aluminium Split Hubs. Speeds to 2000 rpm One piece assembly Zero radial play Bores from 4.762 to 9.525mm
Uniflex	Spring : 1095 Steel Hubs : Cold Rolled Steel Operating Temperature : 121 Deg C (250 Deg F) Maximum Speed : 30000 RPM Torque ratings 2.0 to 9.3 N.m Bore sizes from 3.175 to 12.700mm
Uni-Lat	Hubs (UNL18 & 27): Brass CZ 121 Chromate & passivate finish Hubs (UNL34 & 41):Alum. Alloy 2011 T8 Alocrom finish Bearing Rings: Black Acetal Operating Temp. Range: -20°C to +60°C 3000 to 6000 rpm depending on size 10° angular and 1mm radial compensation. Flex-free mechanical action - low bearing loads Bores from 5.000 to 10.000mm
Universal Joints	Universal joints are included in this summary of coupling types because they essentially serve the same purpose - to couple two shafts whilst allowing for some misalignment. Universal joints allow for very large angular offsets of the shafts - up to 90o for double joints. Available in plastic, steel and stainless steel. Telescoping universal joints allow for axial movement of the shaft.

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