34
TQ10 User Guide
Misalignment & Couplers
Align the motor shaft and load as accurately as possible. In most applications, some
misalignment is unavoidable, due to tolerance variations in components. However, exces-
sive misalignment may degrade your system’s performance. The three misalignment
conditions, which can exist in any combination, are illustrated and described below.
Aligned
Parallel Misalignment
Combined Parallel & Angular Misalignment
End Float
Angular Misalignment
Misalignment Conditions
•
Angular Misalignment: The center lines of two shafts intersect at an angle other than zero
degrees.
•
Parallel Misalignment: The offset of two mating shaft center lines, although the center lines
remain parallel to each other.
•
End Float: A change in the relative distance between the ends of two shafts.
The type of misalignment in your system will affect your choice of coupler.
Single-Flex Coupling
Use a single-flex coupling when you have angular misalignment only. Because a single-flex
coupling is like a hinge, one and only one of the shafts must be free to move in the radial
direction without constraint.
Do not use a double-flex coupling in this situation
: it will
allow too much freedom and the shaft will rotate eccentrically, which will cause large
vibrations and catastrophic failure.
Do not use a single-flex coupling with a parallel
misalignment
: this will bend the shafts, causing excessive bearing loads and premature
failure.
Double-Flex Coupling
Use a double-flex coupling whenever two shafts are joined with parallel misalignment, or a
combination of angular and parallel misalignment (the most common situation).
Single-flex and double-flex couplings may or may not accept end play, depending on their
design.
Rigid Coupling
Rigid couplings are generally not recommended, because they cannot compensate for
any
misalignment. They should be used only if the motor or load is on some form of floating
mounts that allow for alignment compensation. Rigid couplings can also be used when the
load is supported entirely by the motor’s bearings. A small mirror connected to a motor
shaft is an example of such an application.
Coupling Manufacturers
HUCO
ROCOM CORP.
HELI-CAL
70 Mitchell Blvd, Suite 201
5957 Engineer Drive
P.O. Box1460
San Rafael, CA 94903
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Santa Maria, CA 93456
(415) 492-0278
(714) 891-9922
(805) 928-3851
Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com