Disc couplings are an excellent choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on general coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the disc coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. Specifically, Watkins covers different styles of […]
Are disc and bellows couplings similar?
Disc couplings are an excellent choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on general coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the disc coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. “Disc couplings. The disc coupling […]
What do I need to know before selecting an Oldham coupling?
Oldham couplings are an excellent choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on general coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the Oldham coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. Zero backlash Oldham couplings are […]
Do bellows couplings require precision alignment?
Bellows couplings are an excellent choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on proper coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the bellows coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. Bellows couplings are for precise […]
When should I use a zero-backlash jaw coupling?
Zero-Backlash jaw couplings are a good choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on proper coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the jaw coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. “…We’ll go on to […]
What are the pros and cons of beam couplings?
Beam couplings are an excellent choice when selected for the proper application. We asked Bobby Watkins of Ruland Manufacturing to give us some insight on proper coupling selection. The following is an excerpt from the beam coupling section of his Webinar, Master Coupling Selection: A Guided Journey by Bobby Watkins. “We’re going to start off […]
Rigid couplings for mixers
Mixers are one of the most common industrial applications. They feature a motor coupled to a paddle or propeller. While the connection is simple, mixers can be used in chemical, food, paint, adhesive and other industries complicating coupling selection. The versatility and flexibility of mixers are what makes them challenging to specify a coupling for. […]
Mountable shaft collars from Ruland
Ruland has released a new line of mountable shaft collars with flats and tapped holes or tapped holes only in the outer diameter, allowing for easy mounting of shaft collars to each other or adjacent assemblies. Clamp style designs are used allowing for benefits such as not marring the shaft, indefinite adjustability, and high holding […]
Shaft collar evolution
The first mass-produced collars were used primarily online shafting in early manufacturing mills. These early shaft collars were solid ring types, employing square-head set screws that protruded from the collar. Protruding screws proved to be a problem because they could catch on a workmen’s clothing while rotating on a shaft, and pull them into the […]
Locking devices: basic designs and applications
A locking device is a mechanical component that prevents mated shafts and other machine elements from moving out of position when subjected to external forces. Operating conditions such as initial installation error, temperature variations, vibration and others can all cause issues. These are critical components. The safety of an entire system often relies on locking devices. […]
Jaw couplings for precision conveyors
Ruland zero-backlash jaw couplings have a balanced design, accommodate all forms of misalignment and have high dampening capabilities, making them an ideal fit for precision conveyors with frequent starts and stops. These conveyor applications are often found on equipment used in semiconductor, solar, optical inspection, and medical automation. Jaw couplings offer system designers a wide […]
Metric rigid couplings with step bores
Ruland has expanded its line of rigid couplings to include metric sizes with step bores. This gives equipment manufacturers designing precision servo driven systems or shaft-to-shaft connections a…
Beam couplings for motors
Ruland beam couplings are designed to couple stepper and servo motors to encoders, lead screws, and light duty actuators in a variety of industries. They are zero-backlash, have…
Clamp style shaft collars for food equipment
Ruland manufactures clamp style shaft collars with high holding power, fine finishes, and precise face to bore perpendicularity. They are commonly used for guiding, spacing, stopping, mounting, and…
Oldham couplings for conveyor systems
Oldham couplings from Ruland are zero-backlash, have a balanced design, accommodate large parallel misalignment, and are highly versatile, making them a suitable fit for precise positioning and general…
Flexible vs rigid couplings: Part 3
This is the third installment in a weekly 3-part series on flexible vs rigid couplings running through December. Here, Ruland’s Bobby Watkins shares his insight into the best…
Motion systems application examples: Shaft collars and where they work
By Mike Santora Shaft collars are part of nearly all types of moving machinery—including designs for mechanical, medical, aerospace, automotive and industrial industries. In electric-motor-driven designs, they’re most…
Thin line shaft collars for encoders
Encoders often require a custom shaft collar to meet their size and performance requirements. Ruland has designed thin line shaft collars with a narrow profile and reduced weight…
Disc couplings for semiconductor and solar equipment
Semiconductor and solar equipment such as wafer handlers, bonders and screen printers often require rapid movements over short increments to precisely position wafers, chips or panels. Disc couplings…
Oldham couplings for printing applications
Ruland manufactures zero-backlash Oldham couplings that accommodate high amounts of parallel misalignment with low bearing loads and are designed for reduced vibration at higher speeds. The three-piece design…
Tips on selecting the proper beam coupling
by Bill Hewitson, Ruland Manufacturing Co. In the design of motion control equipment, the coupling is often left as one of the last components to be specified and is often overlooked or taken for granted rather than treated as a critical part of the performance of the system. Selection of the proper coupling ensures the…
Couplings handle servo driven packaging needs
Looking for couplings for packaging applications? These rigid couplings meet this application’s demanding needs. They have precision honed bores, anti-vibration hardware, and opposing hardware on two-piece styles to ensure fit, alignment, and holding power. They are available in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials to suit the needs of packaging applications such as case…
Rigid couplings for packaging applications
Ruland offers rigid couplings that are designed for packaging applications. They have precision honed bores, anti-vibration hardware, and opposing hardware on two-piece styles to ensure superior fit, alignment,…
Corrosion resistant shaft collars for marine and subsea applications
These 303 and 316 stainless steel shaft collars meet the demanding needs of marine and subsea applications exposed to the harsh ocean environment, such as AUVs, ROVs, seismic activity detection, tidal power and deep sea drilling equipment. Type 303 stainless steel is best suited for above water applications where the shaft collar can be regularly…
Bellows couplings for printing applications
Ruland, Marlborough, Mass. manufactures bellows couplings with high torsional stiffness that can accommodate all forms of misalignment and are well suited for large format printers, 3D printers, offset…