Buy Couplings & Shaft Collars Online in Australia
Shaft Couplings & Collars — Quick Reference
Shaft couplings connect two shafts to transmit power while accommodating misalignment, vibration and thermal expansion. Selection turns on the COUPLING TYPE (rigid for aligned shafts; flexible for misalignment tolerance) and the LOAD TYPE (steady vs shock). AIMS stocks Finer Power Transmissions and KCP. Match to bore size + torque transmission + alignment tolerance.
| Type | Misalignment Tolerance | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Jaw (Spider) Couplings | Up to 1° angular, 0.25 mm parallel | General workshop drives — torque + light shock absorption |
| HRC (Curved Jaw) | Up to 1.5° angular | Mid-power drives — pumps, fans, compressors |
| Flexible Tyre Couplings | Up to 4° angular, high vibration absorption | Heavy shock loads — mining, crushers, mixers |
| Cone Ring Couplings | Up to 1° angular, high torque density | Heavy industrial drives, high-torque applications |
| Rigid (Sleeve) Couplings | Zero — must be precisely aligned | Precision applications where alignment is guaranteed |
| Disc / Diaphragm | Up to 1° angular, near-zero backlash | Servo drives, precision positioning, encoder shafts |
| Shaft Collars (Set Screw) | — | Axial positioning on shafts — pulleys, sprockets, sensors |
| Shaft Collars (Clamp / Split) | — | Higher holding force, easy install/remove without shaft removal |
Sizing: match bore to shaft, then check torque rating against driving motor. Always allow some misalignment — even "aligned" shafts shift under thermal expansion + load. For background on flexible couplings, see our flexible coupling guide. For taper-lock alternatives, see taper lock bushes. Companion: keyways & keys, shaft collars.
Couplings & Shaft Collars — Flexible & Rigid Shaft Connections
Shaft couplings connect two shafts to transmit power while accommodating misalignment, vibration, and thermal expansion. AIMS Industrial stocks shaft couplings and shaft collars from Finer Power Transmissions and KCP — jaw (spider) couplings, HRC couplings, flexible tyre couplings, cone ring couplings, rigid couplings, and shaft collars for the full range of industrial drive and positioning applications.
Couplings & Shaft Collars We Stock
Jaw (Spider) Couplings — Metric & Imperial
Finer Power Transmissions jaw couplings use a polyurethane, NBR rubber, or Hytrel spider element between two metal hubs — providing flexible torque transmission with vibration damping and misalignment accommodation. Available in metric and imperial bore sizes with multiple spider element materials for varying stiffness and temperature requirements.
HRC Couplings — Nitrile & Polyurethane Elements
Finer Power Transmissions HRC couplings use a flexible pin-and-bush element in nitrile rubber or polyurethane — widely used for motor-to-pump and motor-to-gearbox connections in conveyor, fan, and general industrial drives. HRC flange taper lock versions allow direct fitment to taper lock bushes for easy installation and removal without disturbing shaft alignment.
Flexible Tyre & Cone Ring Couplings
Finer Power Transmissions flexible tyre couplings use a synthetic rubber tyre element for high misalignment tolerance and vibration isolation — suited to applications with significant shaft misalignment or vibration, including crushers, pumps, and heavy-duty drives. Cone ring couplings use a segmented pin-and-bush design for high torque with simple element replacement without removing hubs.
Rigid Couplings — Clamp Type
Finer Power Transmissions two-piece split rigid couplings (clamp type, black oxide) for applications where shaft alignment is maintained by the machine structure — used as shaft connectors in aligned drive trains where no misalignment accommodation is needed. Clamp type design allows installation without disturbing adjacent components.
Shaft Collars — Split & Grub Screw Types
Shaft collars from KCP and Finer Power Transmissions in clamp-type (split) and grub screw configurations — for shaft retention, component positioning, and mechanical stop applications. Available in metric and imperial bore sizes, steel black oxide and zinc plated finish.
Coupling & Shaft Collar Selection Guide
Misalignment Capacity
- Jaw couplings — tolerate angular (±1°) and parallel (0.5mm) misalignment, adequate for motor-to-pump and motor-to-gearbox connections
- HRC couplings — moderate misalignment tolerance with good vibration damping, standard choice for general industrial drives
- Flexible tyre couplings — highest misalignment tolerance, best choice for applications with significant alignment difficulty or vibration
- Rigid couplings — zero misalignment tolerance, only for precision-aligned shafts
Spider Element Selection for Jaw Couplings
- NBR (nitrile rubber) — standard duty, oil resistant, suitable for most industrial applications
- Polyurethane — stiffer, higher torque capacity, reduced vibration damping, good for higher-load drives
- Hytrel — stiffest element, high temperature rated, suitable for servo-type and high-cycle applications
Stiffer spider elements transmit higher torque but damp less vibration — match element hardness to the drive characteristics and vibration sensitivity of the connected equipment.
Shaft Collar Type Selection
Clamp-type (split) shaft collars grip the shaft without scoring — preferred for precision positioning and where collars may need repositioning. Grub screw (set screw) collars provide a positive position lock and are suited to permanent stop applications where shaft marking is acceptable.
Shop the full range above, or contact our team for expert advice on the right product for your application or reach out if you need a quote. Fast dispatch from our Australian warehouse.
As a proudly Australian business since 1988, we stock locally and work with trusted distributors to ensure fast, reliable supply.
See our full power transmission range including locking assemblies, industrial timing belts, and deep groove bearings.