Test, Measurement, and Inspection

Ruland offers an industry-leading selection of one- and two-piece shaft collars often used in inspection applications. Clamp type shaft collars do not mar the shaft, are infinitely adjustable, and have higher holding power than set screw collars. Ruland shaft collars have precisely controlled face to bore perpendicularity (TIR ≤ .002" / .05mm) which is critical when the collar is used as a load bearing face.
Quick clamping shaft collars are a variation on a traditional shaft collar that are designed test, measurement, and inspection systems. They can be installed, removed, and adjusted quickly without the use of tools. This functionality is especially useful in inspection applications that require frequent changeouts or repositioning such as cameras, sensors, and fixturing. Ruland offers quick clamping shaft collars with a cam lever or clamping lever. The cam lever design is a one-piece anodized aluminum construction with the lever integrated directly into the collar allowing it to sit flush with the OD during system operation. It can be actuated with a finger and is ideal for light duty stationary applications. The clamping lever design pairs an adjustable handle with the shaft collar in place of traditional hardware. It can be easily adjusted by rotating the handle. This design has the benefit of one- and two-piece styles as well as a wider variety of materials including stainless steel, steel, and plastic allowing the user to match the collar to application requirements.
Ruland shaft collars fit shafts from 1/8” to 6” and 3mm to 150mm. They are made from select North American bar stock in 303 & 316 stainless steel for corrosion resistance, 1215 lead-free steel for high holding power, high-strength 2024 aluminum for lightweight, and engineered plastic for corrosion resistance in light duty applications. Ruland manufactures shaft collars in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes to ensure superior fit, finish, and holding power.

Rigid couplings have no flexing element and are machined from a single piece of aluminum, steel, or stainless steel for the greatest torsional stiffness and torque capabilities of any coupling Ruland offers. These performance characteristics are beneficial for designers that need high accuracy and repeatability which is common in test, measurement, and inspection systems found in food processing, material testing, and medical applications.
Ruland straight bore rigid couplings are manufactured with precision honed bores for collinearity to ensure a precise fit and greater torque transmission capability. Collinear bores prevent the coupling from introducing misalignment into systems where it would not otherwise be present allowing for reduced wear on joined components and increased system efficiency. Rigid couplings are available in set screw and one- and two-piece clamping styles in 1215 lead-free steel with a black oxide finish for the highest holding power, lightweight 2024 aluminum for low inertia, and 303 stainless steel for corrosion resistance. Bores are available in sizes from 1/8” to 2” and 3mm to 50mm. Ruland manufactures rigid couplings in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes.

Ruland manufactures beam couplings from a single piece of aluminum or stainless steel with multiple spiral (helical) cuts for greater torque, torsional stiffness, and parallel misalignment capabilities than commodity style single beam couplings. 4-beam style (P- and MW-Series) couplings have two sets of two beams allowing for greater flexibility and more compact lengths than 6-beam couplings. They are commonly used on encoders that are connected to a servo motor in test, measurement, and inspection systems. 6-beam style (F-series) couplings have two sets of three beams for higher torque and torsional stiffness capabilities. It is common to use a 6-beam aluminum coupling in an application with moderate acceleration/deceleration curves, often seen in inspection systems, due to their dampening capabilities and cost effectiveness when compared to a zero-backlash jaw coupling which is used in the same type of applications.
Most test, measurement, and inspection system designers prefer aluminum beam couplings for their low inertia, flexibility, and lower overall cost. Stainless steel beam couplings are designed for applications with higher torque than an aluminum coupling can accommodate. Designers must be careful when using one, however, as they have significantly greater inertia than aluminum types. Ruland beam couplings have a zero-backlash balanced design for smooth operation up to 6,000 RPM and are available with clamp or set screw attachments in bore sizes ranging from 3/32” to ¾” and 3mm to 20mm. Ruland manufactures beam couplings in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes.

Ruland bellows couplings are made of two lightweight anodized aluminum hubs joined by a flexible stainless steel bellows. The thin walls of the bellows allow the coupling to flex under misalignment while remaining rigid under torsional loads. Engineers designing precision test, measurement, or inspection systems often choose bellows couplings because they are lightweight, accommodate all forms of misalignment, and have the greatest size-for-size torque and torsional stiffness of any Ruland flexible coupling.
Ruland bellows couplings are manufactured with a low inertia and zero-backlash making them a good choice for high torque applications that cannot support a rigid coupling due to weight or misalignment requirements. They have a balanced design for reduced vibration at speeds up to 10,000 RPM. Bellows couplings are available in clamp and set screw hubs with or without keyways in bore sizes ranging from 1/8” to 1” and 3mm to 25mm. They are manufactured in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes.

Ruland disc couplings are zero-backlash and have high torque torsional stiffness capabilities making them a good fit for many test, measurement, and inspection applications. Single style disc couplings are comprised of anodized aluminum hubs and stainless steel disc springs. They are ideal for applications with space constraints but designers must be careful when using them as they cannot support parallel misalignment. Double disc couplings are made of two anodized aluminum hubs, an anodized aluminum or electrically isolating acetal spacer, and stainless steel disc springs. The double disc style can accommodate greater amounts of all types of misalignment than single disc types, including parallel misalignment.
Disc couplings have similar performance characteristics to bellows couplings with slightly less torque in exchange for better misalignment capabilities. They are well-suited for testing, measuring, and inspecting equipment that requires high torsional rigidity and speed up to 10,000 RPM, such as those found in precision vision systems. They are available in clamp and set screw hubs with or without keyways in bore sizes ranging from 1/8” to 1-1/4” and 3mm to 32mm. Ruland manufactures disc couplings in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes.

Ruland zero-backlash jaw couplings consist of two lightweight aluminum hubs and a center elastomeric element called the spider. Hubs press fit to an elastomeric element called the spider due to a proprietary curved jaw profile. The spider dampens impulse loads to minimize shock to the motor and other sensitive system components such as bearings. This is highly desirable in systems with high acceleration/deceleration curves often found in optical inspection and measurement equipment. High dampening reduces the time that these systems must pause between movements, known as settling time. The spider is available in three durometers allowing the designer to balance dampening capabilities with torque, misalignment and torsional stiffness based on the needs of the system.
Zero-backlash jaw couplings are considered fail safe because the spider serves as the wear element – in the event of failure the jaws of the two hubs interlock for direct power transmission. The application can then be safely shut down for maintenance rather than stopping suddenly. Spiders can be replaced to restore the original performance characteristics of the coupling leading to reduced maintenance costs when compared to other coupling styles that require complete replacement when at the end of their usable life. Bores are available in sizes from 1/8” to 1-1/4” and 3mm to 32mm. The three piece design allows the user to mix and match clamp or set screw hubs with inch, metric, or keyless bores making it easier to tailor the coupling to specific system requirements. Ruland manufactures zero-backlash jaw couplings in our Marlborough, MA factory under strict controls using proprietary processes.