Standard_Parts_Catalogue

Page 1676 | 3.6 Moving, Transferring, Connecting with Shafts and Joints Couplings General Notes Misalignment and runout tolerances Like all mechanical parts, shafts are subjected to manufacturing and assembly tolerances that generally cannot be enti- rely eliminated even with extensive technical measures. If these deviations are not taken into account in the design, the result can be vibrations, running noises, and wear or damage to the shafts and their bearings. Suitable couplings not only are able to effectively compensate for misalignment and runout errors, they also greatly sim- plify the assembly process, thereby reducing the overall labor required. Shaft misalignment and runout errors can vary in nature and should always be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate coupling. Introduction Couplings create connections between drive shafts and driven shafts in order to transmit rotary motion and torque. For example, they are used to combine the shafts of motors and transmissions into a single drive unit. Alongside the primary purpose of transmitting torque, couplings also carry out other important tasks: - - Compensating for shaft offsets and misalignments - - Absorbing runout errors and axial motions - - Damping vibrations and shocks Couplings are used in a very wide range of applications. The spectrum ranges from simple drives to complex control, regulation and measurement applications. Error type Misalignment diagram Lateral The axes of the shafts are in fact parallel, but they are offset laterally and do not line up. Angular The axes of the shafts do not lie in the same plane; they meet at a certain angle. Axial The shafts move axially along the axis of rotation. Runout The shafts move radially out of the center of the axis of rotation.