Couplers

Flex couplers vs Solid couples. I have two cnc machines. 1 uses flex couples and one has solid couplers. So I am wondering. Is solid better than flex?

Each type of coupler has a different application. You never use solid couplers when the motor and shaft are solidly mounted.

JT

Interesting. I have a Kitamura Mycenter. It has solid mounted everything.

Thank you for the info.

If you have only one bearing on the shaft for example you need a solid coupling. If the two shafts are not perfectly aligned in all axes and and both shafts have two bearings each then the bearings take on extra load and usually fail much sooner. Your machine may be perfectly aligned... or one shaft only has one bearing.

JT

Greetings,

The early Smithy CNC machines had solid couplers. Due to poor alignment issues, they chewed up bearings. Later models, mine included, have the flexible "Lovejoy" style couplings.

However, my Rotary Axis turntable has a "flexure" coupling. I suspect it was used due to space constraints.

Cheers,

Dave