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Flexible Shaft Couplings

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Shaft misalignment can limit a machine’s performance, cause excessive vibration, high reaction loads, and accelerated wear, and often leads to premature equipment failure. Flexible Shaft Couplings can help prevent these issues by transmitting torque while compensating for parallel, angular, and axial misalignment between drive components. When installed correctly, flexible shaft couplings can also reduce vibration, minimize noise, and protect driveshaft components.

High-Performance Flexible Shaft Couplings from the Industry Leader

Zero-Max is an industry-leading coupling manufacturer. Our zero-backlash Flexible Shaft Couplings handle large shaft misalignments without causing high radial stress and perform better than other flexible or rigid alternatives in high-performance applications. Passion and quality, along with decades of experience and expertise, went into designing each of our lines. The results are components that deliver:
 
  • Zero Backlash operation
  • Exceptional performance and precision
  • Perfect for high-speed applications
  • High torsional stiffness
  • Low reaction loads
  • No lubrication required
  • Maintenance-free
  • Long operational life

Choosing the Right Flexible Shaft Coupling for Your Application

Flexible Shaft Couplings provide torque transmission while helping to improve machine performance and life, but using the wrong type can impede mechanical performance. Products that are too rigid can create excessive bearing loads that can impact performance and life.  Options with backlash or that “wind-up” in applications with changing speeds can limit a machine’s operating speed and performance. Incorrect installation or usage outside their recommended ratings can also cause issues. 
 
Primary considerations for properly selecting a flexible shaft coupling include torque capacity, motion profile, maximum RPM, shaft sizes, and the type and amount of misalignment. Once installed, it should be relatively easy to connect and disconnect for inspection, as needed.

Our Proven Designs Help You Achieve Optimal Performance

We offer Flexible Shaft Couplings in various models and styles, including series that are designed specifically for servo motor, automation, and wind turbine applications. You can also request custom designs engineered to meet your unique application requirements. View our catalog.

Composite Disc Couplings

Composite Disc shaft couplings (CD® Couplings) withstand the rigors of the most demanding servomotor systems. We manufacture the functional parts of CD shaft couplings from aerospace-grade, precision-oriented and layered composite materials. These best-in-class flexible couplings handle shaft misalignments while providing high torsional stiffness and zero backlash operation for machines with aggressive motion profiles such as repetitive reversing, stopping, indexing, and high cycle rates.

Choose from Single-Flex, Double-Flex, and Floating Shaft couplings with either clamp type or set screw hubs, depending on the model selected.  A variety of materials and plating are also available. Standard CD Flexible Shaft Couplings are available for shaft sizes ranging from 0.250” to 6.00” diameters, with peak torque transmission up to over 94,000 in-lbs. Larger sizes and higher torque designs are available upon request.  Zero-Max also has extensive custom capabilities.

ServoClass® Shaft Couplings

ServoClass shaft couplings blend performance, durability, and price. These zero-backlash precision metal disc-style couplings offer high torsional stiffness, superior misalignment capacity, and help reduce reaction loads on the connected components.  They are ideal for precision high-speed applications including servomotors, stepper motors, linear actuators, and more. Available in 14 sizes, both single- and double-disc models, and with torque ratings up to 2,200 in-lbs. (250Nm).

Control-Flex Shaft Couplings

Control-Flex shaft couplings are specially designed and manufactured for lower torque load applications including encoders, tachometers, and other instrumentation. These zero backlash flexible shaft couplings are engineered to ensure accuracy and feature clamp hubs for a superior, secure, and vibration-resistant shaft connection. The flex elements offer ultralow bearing reaction loads caused by shaft misalignments. Using these on your encoder will guarantee accuracy and extend its operational life. ​

Schmidt Couplings

Schmidt shaft couplings are uniquely designed to handle applications with challenging misalignment issues or large fixed or variable shaft offsets. This line includes models for large shaft offsets or for inline shaft applications having smaller shaft offsets. We also offer Schmidt 5-D shaft couplings for high torque applications where maintaining constant angular velocity under extreme angular shaft misalignment is critical.
 

Learn More About Flexible Shaft Couplings from Zero-Max

We offer a wide selection of flexible shaft couplings for high-performance applications. Contact us to discuss your application or request customization, or find your local sales representative.