Selection Guide

Coupling Selection Guide

Understand the difference between diaphragm, jaw, cross-slider and beam couplings, and master torque calculation and selection method.

Three selection factors

Follow these three factors in order and you rarely go wrong:

Torque

Check your motor peak torque first, then pick a coupling rated at least 30% above it. Torque ≈ 9550 × power (kW) ÷ speed (rpm).

Bore

Match both the motor shaft and driven shaft diameters. We support custom bores from 3 to 78 mm plus keyways.

Misalignment

Check shaft alignment — well-aligned shafts suit single diaphragm, some misalignment suits long diaphragm or jaw.

Four types compared

TypeFeaturesApplicationsBacklash
Diaphragm couplingMetal diaphragm, zero backlash, high rigidity, maintenance-freeServo motors, CNC, roboticsZero
Jaw couplingTPU elastomer, vibration damping, replaceable, low costGeneral automation, packaging, conveyingZero
Cross-slider couplingCenter slider compensates large misalignmentLarge misalignment, low speedSmall
Beam couplingHelical slot, high flexibility, compactEncoders, low torque light dutyZero

Misalignment compensation

A key value of couplings is compensating misalignment between shafts. Misalignment comes in three types: angular, parallel (radial) and axial. Single diaphragm suits well-aligned shafts; long diaphragm and jaw compensate larger angular and parallel misalignment.

Torque formula

Rated torque T = 9550 × P / n, where P is power (kW) and n is speed (rpm). The coupling's rated torque should be ≥ 1.3 × motor peak torque.

Not sure? Send your motor model and bore — engineers help you select for free

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