When installing stepper or servo motors, gearboxes and encoders in machines, care must be taken to ensure all devices are co-axial, i.e. no angular or parallel misalignment. Failure to do so may place excessive loads on bearings and reduce life of the components.

Using flexible couplings with some angular and parallel compliance will ensure this while maintaining constant velocity and backlash.

The coupling consists of several helical slots cut into a solid cylindrical section forming beams. Because the couplings are machined from a single section, they have constant velocity and do not contribute to backlash in position control systems. Both 6 beam and 3 beam couplings are available. Six beam couplings have greater flexibility where 3 beam couplings are suited to applications where space is limited.

The multibeam couplings are available in aluminium alloy, carbon steel and stainless steel. Both setscrew and clamp shaft fixings are available. The clamp style is more expensive but have better shaft locking ability in high torque applications.

Couplings can be supplied with custom bores or small diameter pilot bores at each end enabling easy boring in a lathe.

SETSCREW FIXING

Recommended for low cost applications where torque is low.

CLAMP FIXING

Recommended for higher torque applications or where shaft damage cannot be tolerated.