Posted to News on 12th Dec 2012, 14:46
Servo couplings for a wide variety of applications
Ruland Manufacturing Co., Inc. manufactures a diverse line of servo couplings for applications such as stepper and servo systems, linear actuators, ball screws, lead screws, encoders, and valve actuation. Industries including medical, printing, packaging, machine tools, linear motion, semiconductor, and solar benefit from having a variety of couplings to choose from. Each application has performance requirements that must be met for the system to function properly. Understanding the different characteristics of each coupling is critical when making a selection.
Rigid couplings have high torque capacity, torsional stiffness, and are zero backlash. Ruland straight bore rigid couplings have precision-honed bores for proper fit and alignment. Proprietary Nypatch coating is used on hardware to resist vibration and maintain holding power. Two-piece styles feature opposing screws for balancing, reducing vibration at higher speeds. Ruland rigid couplings are available in carbon steel for high torque capabilities, aluminium for low inertia, and stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Inch, metric, and inch to metric sizes are available with or without keyways from 1/8 in. to 2 in. and 3mm to 50mm.
Beam couplings have excellent all around performance characteristics, accommodate all types of misalignment, are balanced, and operate with zero backlash. Four-beam couplings are suitable for light duty applications such as encoders or tachometers, while six beam couplings can be used in more heavy duty applications like connecting a lead screw to a servo motor. Ruland beam couplings are available in aluminium for increased flexibility and low inertia or stainless steel for higher torque transmission capabilities and corrosion resistance. Sizes in inch, metric, and inch to metric range from 3/32 in. to 3/4 in. and 3mm to 19mm. Custom cut patterns, anodising, and other custom design features are available.
Oldham couplings are a three-piece assembly well suited to handle large amounts of parallel misalignment with light bearing loads. Aluminium hubs are used for low inertia and discs are available in acetal for high torsional stiffness and zero backlash or nylon for shock absorption and noise reduction. Ruland oldham couplings are also balanced and electrically isolating. They are highly customisable, and hub styles such as clamp, set screw, keyed, keyless, inch, and metric can all be easily combined. Bore sizes range from 1/8 in. to 1-1/8 in. and 3mm to 30mm. Stainless steel hubs, discs with through holes, and other custom design features are also available.
Jaw couplings are a balanced three-piece assembly with an elastomer spider to dampen impulse loads and are well suited for rapid start-stop applications. Spiders are available in three durometers for different torsional stiffness, misalignment, and dampening requirements. Hubs are available in aluminium for low inertia and are available in a variety of styles including clamp, set screw, keyed, keyless, inch, and metric for ease of customisation. Bore sizes range from 1/8 in. to 1-1/4 in. and 3mm to 30mm. Stainless steel hubs, custom dimensions and other specialised design features are also available.
Single or double disc couplings
Disc couplings have high-speed capabilities, high torsional stiffness, and low inertia for highly responsive systems. They perform with zero backlash, are balanced, can be electrically isolating and have a long life. Disc couplings are available in single disc style for compact installations or double disc style for increased misalignment capabilities. Sizes in inch, metric, and inch to metric range from 1/8 in. to 1-1/4 in. and 3mm to 32mm. Stainless steel hubs, keyways, and other custom designs are available by special order.
Bellows couplings are balanced and offer a high degree of torsional stiffness, making them suitable for applications that require accuracy and repeatability. The combination of aluminium hubs and stainless steel bellows creates a lightweight, low-inertia coupling suitable for speeds of up to 10,000 rpm with no allowance for dampening. Inch, metric, and inch to metric sizes are available ranging from 1/8 in. to 1 in. and 3mm to 25mm. Stainless steel hubs, keyways, and other custom designs are available by special order.
All products are manufactured in Ruland's Marlborough, Massachusetts, factory under strict controls using proprietary processes. Servo couplings are part of Ruland's total product offering which also includes a wide variety of shaft collars: one- and two-piece clamp style, set screw, quick clamping, threaded, keyed, lock nut, double wide, and heavy duty. All Ruland products are RoHS and REACH compliant.
For further details about servo couplings from Ruland, please visit the website at www.ruland.com/.
