Typically the bellows are made from stainless steel which is an excellent transmitter of torque. The coupling is made of aluminum which makes these devices exceptionally lightweight and durable. Bronze is also sometimes used. The walls are thin enough to allow the coupling to flex while remaining relatively rigid. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
DieQua Corporation
Bloomingdale, IL | 630-980-1133Our shaft couplings are the best around! Not only do we provide you with exceptional levels of customer service but we also provide you with manufacturing and a repair service that you can count on. We are also capable of providing you with special designs. That’s right! Our design team will work closely with you in order to ensure that you are getting the product that will fit your specific requirements perfectly! Call or email us today for more information!
Wittenstein, Inc.
Bartlett, IL | 888-534-1222Wittenstein, formerly known as Alpha Gear Drives, is known worldwide for its research, development, production and sales of high-precision planetary gear reducers and motion control systems. For 25 years we have been a speed reducer manufacturer of right angle gear boxes, worm gearboxes, servo worm gear speed reducers, high precision rack and pinion, linear actuators and rotary servo actuators.
Helical Products Company, Inc.
Santa Maria, CA | 877-353-9873Helical Products was conceived in 1958 when George Sabadash developed the concept and method of producing the HELI-CAL Flexure as a single piece flexible coupling/coupler. In addition to our standard shaft couplings, we can design and manufacture special or custom couplings to meet your requirements that exceed the capabilities of our standard lines. A consultation with our Helical factory engineers is at "no charge." We urge you to use this service or call the Helical representative near you.
Stafford Manufacturing Corp.
Wilmington, MA | 800-695-5551Since 1975, Stafford has been your super source for superior shaft couplings and has grown and developed to be much more, providing a wide assortment of components for power transmission, motion control and other applications. Stafford has the industry-leading capabilities for custom manufacturing, so let its experienced professionals put their experience and expertise to work for you.
Renold Jeffrey
Morristown, TN | 800-251-9012Renold Jeffrey is an international manufacturer and distributor of engineering products. Our history and experience dates back to 1864 and our tradition of quality continues. All of the items in our large product line are engineered for precision and performance including our roller and conveyor chains, gearboxes, flexible shaft couplings, material handlers and freewheels among many others.
Bellows Couplings - Helical Products Company, Inc.Bellows couplings are cylindrical with flexible rings acting as the coupling. On either side are solid metal ends that connect to shafts or other components. They are typically quite short in length and range in diameter size from 1/8 inch to a full inch; custom or specialty sizes are available but do not greatly vary in construction or function. Like shaftwheel couplings, they are constructed to reduce vibration when used in applications with high rotations per minute (rpm). Mostly used in industrial machinery, bellows couplings create a quiet, smooth operation in systems with high levels of torsional integrity like encoder drives, closed loop servo systems, motion control instrumentation, robotics, CNC machine tools and precision positioning.
Bellows Couplings - Helical Products Company, Inc.Mechanical flexible couplings are made of loose fitting parts that move in a sliding and rolling manner; bellows couplings fit this category because they have a coil that allows them to move. Unlike other mechanical flexible shaft couplings, these generally need no lubrication. They offer a near-infinite life span and are virtually maintenance free. Their connection is hidden within the fit-length of the hub, enabling exact transmission of angular motion and torque.
Bellows couplings operate at high speeds anywhere from 12,000 to 32,000 rpm and absorb eccentricity and angularity. They are oil- and chemical-resistant, have thin and lightweight yet strong walls and offer easy and simple mounting and dismounting. Bellows couplings exhibit high torsional stiffness and zero backlash. The most common methods of construction for flexible couplings such as these include electroforming, chemical deposition, mechanical forming and welding.
Electroformed bellows couplings are made by adding layers of metal on a mandrel until the desired thickness is reached and the mandrel is melted away to leave behind the bellows. Chemical deposition is a similar method except that the materials are added by electrodeposition. Mechanical forming includes roll-forming or extrusion. Welded bellows couplings are made by welding a series of rings or washers on both their inside and outside.