Best Couplings for Servo Motors: Backlash Free Options Compared The genuinely zero-backlash coupling types for servo and motion-control applications are bellows and disc couplings — both transmit torque through a solid metal element with no clearance gaps to wind up before the driven shaft responds. Beam couplings run a close second, with backlash low enough […]
How to Measure Coupling Bore Size: A Step-by-Step Guide Coupling bore size is the actual inside diameter of the hub where your shaft fits — not the shaft’s nominal “nameplate” size, which is often a few thousandths off from what calipers actually read. Measure your shaft diameter directly with calipers at two or three points […]
Understanding Coupling Misalignment: Angular, Parallel, and Axial Explained Shaft misalignment comes in three forms: angular (shafts meet at a slight angle), parallel (shafts run side by side but offset), and axial (shafts move slightly toward or away from each other along their length, sometimes called end-float). Every flexible coupling is rated for a maximum amount […]
Best Couplings for Small Pump Systems: Sizing and Misalignment Guide For most small-to-medium pump systems — centrifugal pumps, gear pumps, small positive-displacement units — a jaw coupling is the right default choice: it absorbs the shock of pump start-up and cavitation, tolerates ordinary shaft misalignment, and the elastomeric spider is cheap to replace without pulling […]
Couplings for CNC and 3D Printing Motion Systems: What to Look For Most CNC machines and 3D printers connect a stepper or servo motor to a leadscrew or ballscrew with a flexible beam coupling, not a jaw, grid, or rigid coupling. Motion axes need near-zero backlash and the ability to transmit rotation one-to-one for accurate […]
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Oct
Oct
U-Joint Series Numbers Explained: Matching 1310/1330/1350 to Your Driveshaft A “1310,” “1330,” or “1350” series number tells you the bearing cap diameter and overall cross size of a universal joint — not the vehicle it fits. Two joints with the same series number can still differ in cap-to-cap width, retention style (snap ring vs. U-bolt), […]
Grid Couplings vs Chain Couplings: Which Needs Less Maintenance? Chain couplings are generally the lower-maintenance choice of the two: they use fewer precision parts, tolerate a wider lubrication interval before performance suffers, and are cheaper to service when you do get to them. Grid couplings aren’t high-maintenance by industrial standards, but their spring-steel grid runs […]
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Sep
Sep
Jaw Coupling Spider Materials Compared: Polyurethane vs Hytrel vs Bronze vs NBR The spider is the part of a jaw coupling that actually wears out — and the material it’s made from determines how much torque it can handle, how hot it can run, and how long it lasts before you’re replacing it again. Polyurethane, […]
Lovejoy L-Series Jaw Coupling Cross Reference Guide The Lovejoy L-Series (L070 through L225) is the most widely copied jaw coupling dimensional standard in power transmission — which is exactly why cross-referencing one correctly matters. Because the physical envelope (bore range, outside diameter, hub length) is common across manufacturers, a coupling stamped with a different brand […]
Jaw Coupling vs Disc Coupling: Which Do You Need? A jaw coupling uses a replaceable elastomeric spider to absorb shock and handle minor misalignment, while a disc coupling uses a stack of thin metal discs to transmit torque with near-zero backlash and no wearing parts. Choose a jaw coupling for general-duty machinery where cost and […]