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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Use these gear-shaped couplings for high-speed and high-torque applications. A rubber center allows flexing so couplings can take on multiple types of misalignment while damping vibration and shock. With no metal-to-metal contact, there’s no need for lubrication. 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 center (each component sold separately).

Hubs have a keyway, except hubs for 1/4" and 3/8" shaft dia. do not have a keyway.

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With a rugged roller-chain design, these couplings provide excellent torque and angular misalignment capacities. Lubrication is required. Fasten to your shaft by tightening the set screws, which bite into the shaft to hold it.

A complete coupling consists of two hubs and one roller chain (each component sold separately). Complete couplings meet ANSI B29.23M-1995.

Optional covers retain grease lubrication and provide protection from abrasion and corrosion.

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With a rigid gear design, these steel couplings transmit more torque than other couplings of the same size. Lubrication is required. To install, heat the hubs to expand them slightly and fit them onto the shaft. When they cool, hubs shrink to fit the shaft tightly.

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

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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.

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Support the weight of a motor and transfer torque to another shaft at the same time with these couplings. Often used to hang motors from conveyor belts and other driven equipment, or to connect long sections of shafts, these couplings eliminate the need for support brackets. Use a torque arm to prevent hanging motors from spinning.

The clamping screws on the coupling face squeeze two outer collars against an inner ring, pressing it tight against shafts to lock them together. This ring-locking mechanism leaves no room for backlash, meaning that all of the turning force created by the motor is passed on to the second shaft. These couplings grip shafts of any shape, so you can install them onto existing keyways and splines without using a key.

To install these couplings, use a torque wrench to tighten each screw to the fastener tightening torque listed for each coupling size. To remove, gradually loosen each screw in sequence until you can slide the coupling on the shaft. Warning: Do not remove any clamping screws from the coupling until the outer collars are separated from the inner ring. The ring is under tension, and a sudden release of the collars can cause serious injury.

Overhung load capacity is the amount of downward force that a coupling can withstand from a motor or other object that it is supporting. To calculate the overhung load, measure the distance from the center of the coupling to the center of gravity of the motor. Multiply that distance by the combined weight of the motor and the portion of the shaft between the coupling and the motor. Do not exceed the overhung load capacity for a coupling.

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Since they transfer torque in one direction and spin freely in the other, these clutches are useful in applications where you don’t want motion to reverse, such as in backstopping, indexing, and overrunning. For example, they can be used to prevent a conveyor from reversing direction. They’re through-shaft clutches, so they regulate torque transmission between a drive shaft and a mounted component such as a pulley, sprocket, or gear.

When choosing a clutch, consider how much torque you need to transfer. Sprag clutches handle higher torque than roller clutches because they have more contact points. This makes them best for backstopping applications.

You should also consider how the clutch will attach to your mounted component. Clutches without a hub have a precision ground outer race, so they can be press fit directly into a component and positioned anywhere along the length of your shaft. They also have mounting holes on their face you can use to secure your component or an anti-rotation device, such as a torque arm, for a different backstopping setup. Clutches that mount to shafts with a slip fit must be secured with a shaft collar or in some other way that prevents them from moving along the length of your shaft.

Covers protect you from rotating equipment when the clutch is mounted to the end of the shaft.

Torque arms work as an anchor for clutches in backstopping applications. Mount to the outer race of your clutch and a stationary piece of equipment.

One side is unfinished for milling custom pulleys, threaded hubs, sprockets, collars, knobs, sensor targets, or just about anything imaginable; the other side is a one-piece clamping coupling for mounting whatever you’ve created to your shaft. Slide these ends onto your shaft and tighten the clamping screws for a secure hold that won’t damage your shaft.

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

Carbon steel ends are easier to machine than stainless steel. They have a black-oxide finish that adds a layer of rust resistance but should be used in primarily dry environments.

Stainless steel ends provide the most corrosion resistance but are more difficult to machine than steel.

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