- Shaft Collar
The shaft collar is a simple, yet important, machine component found in many power transmission applications - most notably motors and gearboxes. They are used as mechanical stops, locating components, and bearing faces. The simple design lends itself to easy installation.
et Screw Shaft Collars
The first shaft collars to hit the industry were Set Screw collars. These collars utilize a solid ring and screws that protrude towards the center and ‘dig’ into the shaft. Set Screw collars are best used when the material of the shaft is "softer than the set screw". Unfortunately, the set screw causes damage to the shaft – a flare-up of shaft material – which makes the collar harder to adjust or remove.
Clamp-style Shaft Collars
The Clamp-style collar is the other option. They come in one and two-piece designs and solve the problem that Set Screw collars create. Instead of protruding into the shaft, the screws act to compress the collar and lock it into place around the shaft. The ease of use is maintained with this design and there is no shaft damage. Since the screws compress the collar, a uniform distribution of force is imposed on the shaft, leading to a holding power that is "nearly twice that" of Set Screw collars.
Perhaps the most innovative and useful of the collars is the two-piece Clamp-style collar. For installation, the user does not need to slide the collar over the shaft, but can install in place. The two-piece design is also easy to customize and provides the most holding power of all shaft collars.
ources
Information gathered from William Hewitson, Director of Manufacturing and Engineering, Ruland Manufacturing Company, Inc. [http://www.ruland.com]
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