Flexible Shaft Couplings; where to buy?

[boyvox]

So....where does one buy Flexible Shaft Couplings? I can't seem to find any retailers/distributors online to order from. I am looking for helical type (or other zero backlash) with 3/8" holes in either side.
-Ben

[Jason Marsha]

Check these guys out, www.sdp-si.com .

Jason

[ShayArnett]

www.surpluscenter.com www.use-enco.com www.mcmaster.com all have the 3pc spider type couplings and i think at least surplus center and mcmaster have the helical type

[boyvox]

Thanks,

Sometimes I just don't do a good job searching and it's great to get a quick list of sources. I found just what I wanted in 5 minutes! Appreciate the help.

[CJL5585]

Check out US Digital. Don't have the link. They have the helical couplings for $20.00 each.

[boyvox]

Yeah I was looking at the US digital site today and I saw those. They are cheap and about what I'm looking for. I am also interested in their drives and encoders. Have you (or anybody else) used their stuff? I'm using Mach2/3 right now and I'd like to work out a system with some encoders to get a stop script to run if I lose steps. I think it's a must with this machine. Perhaps I'll ask more about that in another thread when I get to it, which will probably be a while down the road. Thanks, Ben

[CJL5585]

Originally Posted by boyvox Yeah I was looking at the US digital site today and I saw those. They are cheap and about what I'm looking for. I am also interested in their drives and encoders. Have you (or anybody else) used their stuff? I'm using Mach2/3 right now and I'd like to work out a system with some encoders to get a stop script to run if I lose steps. I think it's a must with this machine. Perhaps I'll ask more about that in another thread when I get to it, which will probably be a while down the road. Thanks, Ben

Their drives are Gecko with the US Digital name on them. The encoders are their own, and from what I have heard, they are some of the best encoders for the money. Am not sure who makes their motors.

Hope this helps.
Jerry

[JerryFlyGuy]

I'm wondering if someone could pass on, when and where a Flexi coupling is needed vs. a solid one? I'm planning on hooking my Z stepper directly to the ballscrew and I think I could probably do it w/ a solid coupler, any reason I should use a flexi??

Thanks

Jerry

[rippersoft]

Less stress to the motors bearings. Takes some of the load off.

RipperSoftware

[Jason Marsha]

The flexi-coupling allows for a slight misalignment between the motor shaft and the lead screw, helical couplings allow for this misalignment while stiil giving zero backlash. The solid coupler will result in the lead screw having to fully compensate for the misalignment and as a result will whip more at higher rpm and as rippersoft said, put more stress on the bearings.

Remember that some flexi-couplings are not zero backlash, some have a high degree of flex while others have less. The lovejoy 3 piece spider couplings that many of use including myself use here in the zone are not actually zero backlash but it is minimal, some of us however cut our own spider inserts to eliminate this backlash.

Jason

[Al_The_Man]

Make sure you do not use Aluminum Helical if coupling a Ball screw, the Stainless are more durable, but these Lovejoy coupling do a good job, http://www.lovejoy-inc.com/uniflex.htm
I have used the Uniflex in the past.
Al.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Hey guy's, thanks for the advice. One of the reason's I asked was because I'm having trouble finding them in 1/2", 3/8" seem's to be the largest I can find [easily anyway] and McMaster wants more than the price of the Ballscrew for them.. so.. I'll just have to keep looking..

Jerry [long weekends coming, and I'm not ready for it]