Flexible couplings are one of the most critical components in mechanical drivetrains. Yet they're also one of the most overlooked during maintenance and inspection. In the marine and power generation industries, neglecting coupling health can be costly. Understanding your couplings and their requirements can ensure a smooth inspection and maintenance cycle. And in turn, can lead to longer coupling life and more uptime.

Mechanical design engineers planning a drivetrain typically have a range of component options to choose from, and many decisions will boil down to the specific application. When it comes to creating optimal torque output, rotational speed and direction, few decisions are as important in designing high performing gear drives as choosing the right gear for the job. 

A wide range of medical devices, digital imaging or scanning applications, and laboratory automation rely on linear motion. For laboratory automation, the need for increased productivity, higher accuracy, and better reproducibility of experimental results are driving the increased use of linear motion. Sophisticated medical devices and digital imaging or scanning applications are increasingly relying on linear motion control systems which have become crucial for the successful development, progress, and deployment of these vital medical tools. Here are some examples from PBC Linear:

It's no secret that cycloidal gearboxes are important in mechanical engineering, especially when it comes to precision motion control and efficient power transmission. The gear systems differ from harmonic wave/strain wave gearboxes by using a cycloidal disk and needle bearings to transmit torque with minimum backlash, achieve high reduction ratios, and support substantial loads. This Sumitomo Drive Technologies blog will talk about single-stage and multi-stage cycloidal gearboxes.

Gear backlash in precision applications is a critical element of gear system performance. Too much backlash can result in inefficiencies of motion in the gear train and will ultimately damage a gear’s teeth. Too little can mean the gears bind up and cause excessive wear to the tooth’s surface and the root of the gear, or even the fracturing of a tooth. Establishing and setting the appropriate amount of backlash is essential in gear design and manufacturing, according to Berg, a Regal Rexnord Brand.