A strip of flexible spring steel wraps around the teeth of both hubs to absorb sharp, momentary load increases that can come from motor startups, emergency braking, or sudden impact with hard objects. When the shock load hits, the strip of spring steel (known as a grid) flexes to spread out the load. After the load passes, the grid straightens back out. They're commonly found in wire drawing and cutting machines, pulverizers, and mixers. Compared to spider couplings, jaw couplings, and other flexible shaft couplings, these handle higher torque while taking up less space. All have keyed bores to work with keyed shafts, which transmit higher torque with less slippage than round shafts.

A complete coupling consists of two hubs as well as a grid and cover assembly (all sold separately). The grid and cover assembly includes a spring steel grid, aluminum cover, rubber seals, and grease for lubrication. When ordering, please choose components that have the same manufacturer series number, otherwise the grid will not fit.

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Designed for use in food-processing applications, where a fraying spider could contaminate a batch, these couplings have a metal-detectable rubber spider. Small pieces of metal inside the rubber will set off a metal detector, alerting you to the problem. In addition to the rubber spiders, these couplings have 303 stainless steel hubs, so they resist rusting in wet and damp areas common to food production. Since they aren't made of FDA listed materials, however, they shouldn't come in direct contact with food.

Also known as Lovejoy® and jaw couplings, these three-piece couplings reduce shock, handle minor shaft misalignment, and do not require lubrication. A set screw in each hub bites into your shafts to hold the coupling in place. Because the two hubs interlock with the spider, these couplings will continue to work even if the spider breaks or wears away. This fail-safe design gives you time to shut down your equipment before damage occurs to other components.

A complete coupling consists of two hubs and one spider (all components are sold separately).

Metal-impregnated Buna-N rubber spiders are best for jobs with frequent starting, stopping, and reversing. The most commonly used spider material, they resist chemicals and damp vibration.

Metal-impregnated Hytrel rubber spiders are best for systems with continuous motion. They handle higher torque than Buna-N spiders and have better chemical resistance. They are not recommended for systems with starting, stopping, and reversing.

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Made with lightweight nylon sleeves, these gear couplings require less energy to move than other high-torque flexible couplings. They compensate for parallel, angular, and axial misalignment. Fasten to your shafts by tightening the set screws, which bite into the shaft to hold it.

A complete coupling consists of two hubs and one sleeve (each component sold separately).

For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.

One end has a finished bore size; the other can be machined to any size—great for connecting to uncommon shaft sizes and shafts that are undersized from wear or oversized from coatings. Slide these couplings onto your shafts and tighten the clamping screws for a secure hold that won’t damage the shafts. All of these couplings are rigid and must be used on aligned shafts. They prevent movement between the shafts, so they can handle high-torque applications.

Couplings for keyed shafts have keyways that firmly grip the shaft’s key to eliminate slipping. They handle higher torque than couplings for round shafts.

Steel couplings are a good option in dry environments.

303 stainless steel couplings resist corrosion caused by water. They're good for wet and damp environments but will corrode when exposed to salt water and other chloride solutions.

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Slide these couplings onto the end of your shaft and tighten the set screws to secure. Set screws bite into the shaft to hold the coupling in place. Good for high-torque applications, rigid couplings connect two shafts that are aligned, allowing for no relative movement between the shafts.

Black-oxide steel couplings have some corrosion resistance. Stainless steel couplings have excellent corrosion resistance.

Couplings with four set screws hold better than couplings with two set screws.

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Install and remove these shaft couplings without disconnecting the shafts, motors, and other attached components—they’re made in two pieces so you don’t need to slide them onto shaft ends. They’re also useful when you have limited access to the ends of the shafts. These couplings clamp onto the shafts, creating a secure hold that won’t mar them. Good for high-torque applications, they have a rigid construction. However, their rigidity means these couplings can only connect shafts that are well aligned.

Couplings for keyed shafts have keyways that are cut to standard ANSI dimensions, so they fit snugly on ANSI keyed shafts to eliminate slipping during starts and stops.

Steel couplings are stronger and handle higher torque loads than aluminum and stainless steel couplings.

303 stainless steel couplings resist corrosion, so they’re often used in wet conditions, such as with mixers and pumps.

For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.