Rotating shaft-driven mechanical components are commonly used in all forms of machinery that perform the various processes and functions of modern industry. While perfect alignment of shafts and rotating components is desired, shaft ends can often be misaligned. This misalignment places stress on shafts and related parts, which can result in early failure of both. Drive couplings are often used to compensate for shaft misalignment, whether the misalignment is an intentional or an unintentional part of the design. AutomationDirect’s new SureMotion drive couplings are available in four styles: jaw/spider, double loop, Oldham, and beam-style servo; bore reducers are also offered to fit a coupling when the exact bore is not available.

The SureMotion jaw/spider coupling is a clamp-style coupling with 14 to 65 mm aluminum hubs and bore diameters ranging from 3/16” to 32 mm. Polyurethane center “spiders” are available in different durometers for different degrees of shock and vibration reduction. Double loop couplings provide high torsional rigidity in a one-piece design. Hubs are made of series 300 stainless steel with corrosion protection against acids, alkalis, solvents, oils, grease, and ozone. Available in 10 mm to 40 mm hub sizes, double loop couplings dampen shock and vibration and operate at speeds of up to 3,000 rpm.

Oldham drive couplings feature aluminum hubs in 19 mm to 57 mm sizes and have a large radial misalignment capability. Corrosion-resistant and non-magnetic, they provide electrical isolation, absorb shock and isolate vibration while dampening resonance. Available beam-style servo couplings are stainless steel set-screw couplings which feature the flexibility of a bellows coupling plus the torsional stiffness and strength of a disc coupling. Ideal for high-speed applications up to 10,000 rpm, beam-style servo couplings are corrosion-resistant, have zero backlash and a maximum torque of up to 300 lb-ft. Bore reducers are available for use in all SureMotion drive coupling hubs to reduce bore size. The hardened stainless steel split-collar design provides 25% greater holding power than standard split collars.