Discover all About Universal Joint, and Oldham Coupling

1. Discover all About Universal Joint, and Oldham Coupling You might not be familiar with the valuable devices–universal joint, and Oldham coupling. So, let us discover what they are: What is a Universal Joint? If you belong to the mechanical engineering industry, you must be familiar with universal joints. You can use them for many industrial applications. You can regard a universal joint as a connection between two shafts. And that enables relative rotation in two axes. If you observe a universal joint, you will see two revolute joints with perpendicular and intersecting axes. Working Mechanism When the shafts get connected, each of them terminates at a revolute joint with their axis perpendicular to the shaft’s rotational axis. The connection enables the transfer of the rotatory motion between shafts in addition to correcting any misalignment in both remaining rotational degrees of freedom. A universal joint has two degrees of freedom. And that arise due to a single rotational degree of freedom constraining the shaft rotation and relative rotational translations. But, a universal joint is not a constant-velocity joint because the velocity of the output shaft will oscillate only when the input shaft rotates at a constant speed. The amount of misalignment between the shafts forms the driving force behind the oscillation. When the shafts become coaxial, the output shaft will have a constant velocity.

2. What are Oldham Couplings? You can regard Oldham Couplings as three-piece flexible shaft couplings that connect driving and driven shafts in mechanical power transmission assemblies. Usually, the couplings are used to counter the misalignment that usually occurs between connected shafts. With identical left- and right-hand slotted elements, the couplings can sandwich a slider block between them. In addition, the couplings also can absorb shock. Besides, the couplings are the perfect choice for machines in which shafts are misaligned in parallel. Uses of Oldham Couplings Oldham Couplings find uses in stepper-motor-driven positioning stages as they can absorb shocks from frequent start or stops and load reversals. The following are the broad uses of Oldham Couplings: Zero-Backlash Operation Since Oldham couplings are a three-piece assembly, they comprise two lightweight aluminium or corrosion-resistant stainless steel hubs and a centre disk. The tenons on the hubs fit the slots in the disk with a slight press fit. It allows the coupling to operate with zero backlashes. Usually, the couplings are commonly used in servo-driven systems that require precise motion control and low inertia, balanced design. Flexible With Oldham couplings, you can get many pairing options. The couplings allow you to clamp or set screw hubs with the same outside diameter with keyed or keyless bores and inch or metric. In addition, you can get disks in acetal for zero-backlash and high torsional stiffness, nylon for dampening.

3. High Parallel Misalignment Oldham couplings allow you to accommodate parallel misalignment with low bearing loads. It can happen so because the only resistance is the friction of the disk sliding over the hub tenons. As a result, the parallel misalignment of Oldham couplings is significantly higher than that of other servo couplings. Blind Assembly Oldham couplings can be used in systems where shaft access is limited due to their three- piece design. It saves significant time during repair or installation as you need not take the entire system assembly apart. Also, you can easily remove Oldham disks without using tools. Electrical Isolation The couplings are devoid of any metal-to-metal contact. As such, you can get electrical isolation to safeguard sensitive instruments such as encoders from electrical currents. As such, it prevents the possibility of getting inaccurate data readings or damages. The feature is useful in many applications, and that is why Oldham couplings are preferred. Fail-Safe Design Usually, a disk can fail due to torque overloading. As a result, the power transmission will come to a halt. In addition, continued and comprised operations are likely to damage some systems. There can be no issue if Oldham disks break as failed Oldham disks are easy to replace and inexpensive. They can function as an efficient mechanical fuse as an excellent alternative to expensive systems, often prone to wear or failure. Low Replacement Cost Usually, Oldham coupling develops failures due to the breaking of the disk. And, it is the only item that needs to be replaced. When you install a replacement disk, it is a quick and effortless process. It also reduces system downtime apart from entailing low replacement costs.

4. Conclusion Now, you have come to know what the devices are, and why you should use them. But, you should choose the right manufacturer to get quality devices.