Backlash-free shaft coupling

The flexible ROTEX GS HP achieves peripheral speeds of up to 175m/s and is available in three sizes, with a further three sizes being developed for introduction in the first quarter of 2018. 

The coupling has very compact dimensions, so the driving and driven shafts can be pushed together to within a few millimetres. This allows the design engineer to keep the mounting space short. 

The coupling can be used in machine tools, along with measurement and test bench technology. 

KTR product manager Johannes Deister said: “Couplings which have an open shape reach their limits with high-speed drives quickly, as centrifugal forces heavily deform the coupling hubs and spider. This increases the tension generated and limits the maximum speed of the coupling.

“KTR’s ROTEX GS HP has a circular and closed design, which reduces the radial deformation of the hub geometry. It also does without a spider. 

“Individual elastomers are embedded between the cams instead, which are kept in position and shape by the closed design of the coupling, even with peripheral speeds of up to 175m/s. 

“The large number of elastomer segments transmitting the torque reduces the surface pressure on every single elastomer, which allows for transmitting high torques with a small outside diameter of the coupling.”