Smart Precision
Steel bellows coupling with exceptional features
Backlash-freeshaft misalignment compensation couplings from the smartflex Type series feature among other things a patented, direct clamping system for the flexible steel bellows. This clamping system ensures optimum centring of the bellows to the shafts and provides high running quality and torsional rigidity of the coupling. On steel bellows couplings with conventional radial clamping hubs, radial misalignment on the shaft by half the tolerance backlash occurs during installation. This reduces the running quality and the misalignment capability of the coupling.
- The main feature of the smartflex product range is the patented modular construct ion system. Steel bel lows couplings can be adapted to specific requirements of customers simply by plugging together a few individual parts.
This year, the backlash-free steel bellows coupling system smartflex from the company mayr is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. It has revolutionised the market and the bellows coupling technology. The Type series was launched onto the market in 1998 with 3 sizes and a nominal torque range of 40 to 200 Nm.At present, the smartflex Type series features 6 sizes and covers a torque range of 16 to 700 Nm. Meanwhile, countless smartflex steel bellows couplings are used in the most diverse branches, such as machine tools, gear technology, packaging machines and diverse specialised machines, and have proved extremely reliable. The main feature of the smartflex product range is the patented modular construction system, which makes it possible to adapt steel bellows couplings to the specific requirements of customers simply by plugging a few individual parts together (Fig. 1).
The coupling consists of a mere 5 core components:
- The steel bellows, available in several lengths per size. The customer has the choice between high torsional spring rigidity with low misalignment capability or maximum misalignment capability with lowest coupling restoring forces.
- Two reducing bushings with cylindrical or tapered bores for adapting the coupling to the customer’s shaft dimensions.
- Two clamping rings for frictionally locking and there fore completely backlash-free securement of the steel bellows to the reducing bushings or the shafts.