What to Look for When Selecting a Servo Coupling

Choosing a coupling for a servo system is complicated; thus, knowing coupling performance and application is crucial. This article introduces end users of servo couplings to the performance of various industrial couplings, design criteria, and how to choose couplings for different applications.

Helical slit flexible coupling:

Helical slit flexible industrial couplings are popular for their high performance and cost-effectiveness. They come in single- and multi-head types, offering high flexibility and low bearing load. Single-head helix slits are best for angular and axial deviation, while multi-head helix slits reduce slit length without compromising rectifying ability. However, as size increases, bearing load increases, and installation mistakes are modest.

Cross slide coupling:

A centre slider and two hubs make up cross-slide coupling offered by the top industrial coupling manufacturers. The centre slider fits the hubs with slight pressure, ensuring a zero-backlash connection. The slider may lose zero backlashes over time due to wear, but it’s inexpensive and simple to repair, restoring function. The central slider moving adjusts the shaft’s relative parallel deviation. Cross-slide servo couplings are advantageous due to their superior cost performance. The split’s three-part design limits axial deviation adjustment, making it unsuitable for push-and-pull applications. While the centre slider is floating, the two axes must prevent it from falling.

Zero backlash plum blossom coupling:

Straight and curve claw zero-backlash servo couplings are unsuitable for high-precision servo drives. Plum blossom industrial couplings can handle high speeds but cannot handle large deviations or failures, posing system difficulties due to meshing metal claws.

Disk coupling:

Like single helix slit and multi helix slit, single disk torque limiter coupling cannot adjust parallel deviations, but double disk coupling can bend in multiple directions and can. The thin metal lamination is simple to bend when the deviation load is created. Thus, it can tolerate up to 5 degrees of deviation while creating less bearing load. Near the bellows connection, the metal lamination is torsional rigid. However, the disc coupling is fragile and easily damaged if mistreated or improperly placed. Keeping the installation variation within the coupling’s typical working range is crucial.

Bellows coupling:

The bellows coupling consists of a thin metal tube joined by two hubs joined by welding or bonding. Micro-precision instruments find the thin wall bellows coupling to be very sensitive and responsive, making it a perfect fit. However, a thinner tube wall also has a lower capacity to transmit torque, greatly limiting its practical use. Compared to nickel bellows, stainless steel bellows are more robust and stiffer and often produced by hydroforming.

Solid coupling:

As the name implies, a solid coupling is a coupling that can withstand loads without any clearance gap and has stiff torsional rigidity. The solid coupling cannot be used in a high-speed environment because it may get hot on the shaft when the machine runs at a high speed, which causes the shaft to expand and deform. Additionally, the solid coupling cannot compensate for the axial size deviation from shaft expansion. Any installation deviation in the system will result in premature damage to the shaft, bearing, or coupling. Of course, the solid torque limiter coupling may function well in servo systems, provided that the axial relative displacement deviation of the shaft can be effectively regulated.

We hope this article will help you to choose the right coupling for your industrial needs.

This article covers servo coupling types and performance. Helical slit flexible couplings provide great flexibility and low bearing load, cross slide couplings have a zero-backlash connection, and bellows couplings are sensitive and responsive. Speed, deviation, and installation should also be considered when choosing a coupling for a certain application.

Power Ace India manufactures high-quality, lasting precision industrial couplings for a variety of industrial applications. With their knowledge and innovative technologies, they optimize industrial power transmission system performance and dependability.