Servo couplings are designed to connect two shafts in precision motion control applications. They consist of two hubs connected by a flexible compensating element: metal bellows or elastomer spider. How do you select the best type for your motion control application? While both types provide zero backlash and compensation for shaft mislignment, each has its advantages from torsional stiffness to vibration dampening.
Bellows Type
Bellows couplings use stainless steel bellows connected to the clamping hubs via a press fit brass wire providing zero-backlash and extremely high torsional stiffness.
- High torsionally stiffness
- Temperatures to 300°C
- Torque capacity up to 4000 Nm
- Suitable for all motion control applications
Elastomer Type
Elastomer couplings use an elastomer “spider” between the two clamping hubs. The spider and the clamping hubs interlock with involute jaws/teeth providing zero‑backlash and vibration dampening.
- Vibration/resonance dampening
- Temperatures to 120°C
- Torque capacity up to 2000 Nm
- Lower cost for less precise applications
- Plug-in assembly
- Electrically insulating
Select a coupling by application
Use this quick guide to select the best type of coupling by application priorities.
| Your application prioritizes... | Use this style coupling... |
| Ability to repair | Elastomer |
| Continuous duty cycle | Elastomer |
| Cyclic duty cycle | Bellows |
| Electrical insulation | Elastomer |
| Extreme temperature range | Bellows |
| High speed | Bellows |
| High torque capacity | Bellows |
| High torsional stiffness | Bellows |
| Low-cost solution | Elastomer |
| No maintenance | Bellows |
| Vibration/resonance dampening | Elastomer |