Technical articles
R+W has Developed Plastic Jaw Couplings (I)
High-Performance Plastics Revolutionize Shaft Coupling Design
Engineered plastics are receiving more and more attention in the fields
of mechanical and plant engineering every day. Compared to conventional
metals, the mechanical parameters and material properties of thermoplastics
can be manipulated for optimal performance, or used to mimic the properties
of metals at dramatically reduced cost. Designers and builders, recognizing
the important advantages of thermoplastics, are increasingly integrating
them into new and existing applications, and plastic components can now
be found in a multitude of areas where metals would have been used exclusively
a decade ago.
In the field of mechanical design, the most significant technical advantage to increasingly popular thermoplastics is a dramatically reduced mass and moment of inertia, accompanied by a high level of chemical compatibility and tolerance for heat. Of course it is also difficult to ignore the fact that plastics can provide tremendous cost reduction compared to metals, as the result of decreased production times and relatively low material cost. Unifying the goals of enhancing technical performance and durability with cost savings, engineered plastics are revolutionizing mechanical engineering across a whole spectrum of industries. The latest breakthrough in this area is the release of the all new TX series of thermoplastic shaft couplings from R+W.
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The result of several years worth of intensive research and development, in cooperation with multiple universities, R+W, a German based manufacturer of precision shaft couplings and other mechanical power transmission products, has finally launched a thermoplastic coupling product capable of application in over 90% of areas where traditional insert couplings have been used in the past. This invention is entirely unique in the world market for shaft couplings, and is the first thermoplastic coupling capable of a full range of torque ratings. To manufacturers of low cost machinery and systems who found the price of backlash free and torsionally rigid shaft couplings prohibitive, the TX coupling is the answer at half the cost or less. To manufacturers of high performance machinery, interested in optimizing acceleration and control, the TX is the solution, with 65% reduced mass over aluminum and 89% reduced mass over steel, and a nearly proportionate advantage in terms of moment of inertia. |
 New Elastomer Shaft Couplings made of plastic. |
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While many plastic components must be produced to larger dimensions than their metallic predecessors, R+W has been able to maintain identical dimensions to existing metal coupling designs. The basic structure of the material allows for the same manufacturing tolerances of +/- 0.01mm (0.0004in) or better. The couplings also exhibit the same load tolerance and torsional stiffness properties, making them appropriate for positioning systems. The result is that time consuming evaluations necessary for engineering changes will not be necessary, as a 1:1 replacement for existing designs is available in the TX. |
 TX1: the first Model |
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If you wish to receive more information on this Product please do not hesitate to contact R+W Antriebselemente GmbH at phone: 001-888-479-8728 or via email at info@rw-america.com |
More about Shaft Couplings and Line Shafts with elastomer insert: Series EK Elastomer Jaw Couplings 
Couplings or Couplers, Servo Couplings, zero-backlash Couplings, rotary, flexible or rigid Motor-Couplings
Torque Limiters, Safety Couplings | Metal Bellows Coupling or Bellows Couplings | Line Shafts
Linear Couplings | Elastomer Couplings, Servomax and Spider Couplings | Miniature Couplings
CAD-Files: Line Shafts and Shaft Couplings for power transmission | Sitemap R+W
