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Spiral Beam

Spiral beam couplings are highly flexible precision-machined shaft to shaft couplers that compensate for Axial, Angular and Radial (Parallel) misalignment between shafts. These shaft couplings incorporate 3 from one to 6 beams that spiral around the circumference of the part and penetrate through to the bore. The design of spiral beam couplings provides an advantage over other coupling styles that typically handle only one type of shaft misalignment.
 
Flexible beam couplings are some of the most popular couplings used in industry due to their versatility and high torsional stiffness. Typical uses for spiral couplings include robotics, medical imaging equipment, laboratory equipment, servo motor applications, encoders, and various other power transmission applications.

Zero-Backlash Flexible Beam Couplings

Ondrives.US supplies clamping or set screw style beam couplings in a wide range of bore sizes and diameters. Our single beam couplings and multi-beam couplings have a zero-backlash design and are machined from solid billets of aluminum, stainless steel or nylon. All models feature beams that spiral around the circumference of the part and penetrate through to the bore.
  • Single Beam Couplings have a single beam and are typically less expensive than multi-beam couplings.  These flexible beam couplings are also less torsionally rigid and can tolerate a greater amount of axial movement, making them ideal for lower torque applications.
  • Three Beam Couplings have one set of beams spaced 120 degrees apart to tolerate angular and radial shaft misalignment while providing axial compliance. These flexible beam couplings have more torsional stiffness than a single beam coupling and work well in medium-duty applications.
  • Six Beam Couplings have two sets of these beams separated by a solid member. These spiral beam couplings are longer in length and can tolerate greater radial and angular shaft misalignment.

How Coils Determine Helical Beam Coupling Performance

The performance capability of each helical flexible shaft coupling is determined by factors such as material, inside diameter, outside diameter, coil thickness, and coil quantity
 
The number of coils differs by how many starts a coupling has. For example:
  • Single start designs have one continuous coil.
  • Triple start 3 beam couplers have 3 parallel coils starting 120 degrees from the first.
  • 6 beam couplers have 2 sets of 3 beams, with each beam spaced 120 degrees apart.
As the number of coils changes, the characteristics of the coupling—including angular misalignment, parallel offset, and compression spring rate are affected.
 
Single beam couplings are shorter in length and can handle less angular, radial and axial compensation. They are less torsionally stiff and handle less torque than the 3 and 6 beam versions.
 
6 beam couplings are longer, handle greater compensation and torque, and are torsionally stiffer than the single and 3 beam models.  
 

Selecting the Appropriate Flexible Beam Coupling for Your Application

Ondrives.US offers customization on all shaft to shaft beam couplings. Please contact our application engineers to discuss your needs.

Our engineers have developed a White Paper “How to select Shaft Couplings” to assist you in the selection of the most appropriate shaft to shaft precision machined parts for your application.

The Ondrives.US Advantage: A coupling for every application

  • Zero Backlash
  • Up to 7 degrees of angular offset
  • Parallel Offset (radial misalignment) up to 1mm
  • Single piece construction
  • Any bore to bore combination available within the min. max. limit
  • Inch and metric bores
  • Aluminum, stainless steel and nylon versions available
  • Torques to 1240 inch-lbs.
Couple to almost any shaft diameter with Ondrives.US Bore Reducers and attach your flexible spiral beam couplings to our Precision Ground Shafts, available from stock.

Request a Quote for Single Beam or Multi-Beam Couplings

Ondrives.US engineers flexible beam couplings in various styles, lengths, and bore sizes to meet your power transmission requirements. We have a wide selection of in-stock beam couplings available and provide the option to modify or customize parts to your specifications.
 
Request a quote for spiral beam couplings or contact us to discuss your application.