Category Archive: Uncategorized

Benefits of Quick Adjust Shaft Collars

Nearly every industry, from food and beverages to conveying and medical, makes use of shaft collars. These vital components serve in positioning and alignment roles, keeping other components and equipment located and spaced properly along shafts for safety and performance.

Processes requiring frequent adjustments to shaft collars can experience wasteful downtime and reduced productivity while changes are made. Quick-adjust and quick-release products mitigate these issues by offering rapid precision assembly and adjustment capabilities without additional tools.

Why and When to Choose Quick Adjust Products for Your Industrial Application?

Quick-adjust and quick-release products are designed to make assembly, disassembly, and adjusting clamps and collars more efficient without losses in precision, versatility, performance, or quality. They are ideal solutions for applications where repeated position changes are needed. By streamlining the installation and adjustment of shaft collars and clamps, manufacturers can improve productivity, quality, and ease of operations for shorter lead times and greater efficiency.

Benefits of Quick-Adjust Products in Manufacturing

Traditional shaft collars are effective in many applications, but they can be challenging in manufacturing operations where numerous or precise adjustments are required. Choosing quick-adjust products can improve many aspects of manufacturing processes in these situations, resulting in more versatility, greater productivity, and benefits across many areas of production while meeting deadlines and budget requirements.

Time and Cost Savings

Decreased downtime, which results in faster production and lowered costs, is one of the most rapidly realized benefits of using quick-release collars. Our quick-adjust and quick-release products are designed for precision adjustments, one-handed modifications, and non-damaging gripping power, making location changes as fast and easy as possible.

Increased Flexibility

Multiple features of our quick-release clamp collars and related quick-adjust products enable equipment operators to make changes more efficiently, including:

  • Levers and clamps for rapid positioning and repositioning without tools
  • Strong, evenly distributed holding power that is easily adjusted with great precision
  • User-friendly components for simplified adjustments to meet changing design and process configurations and requirements

Enhanced Productivity

By freeing workers from time-consuming equipment adjustments and reducing downtime, both production and setup times are shortened, leading to greater productivity. When manufacturing and labor time and expenses are reduced, valuable resources can also be reassigned to other aspects and areas of production.

Ergonomic Advantages

Quick-adjust and quick-release products are fast and easy to mount and adjust, taking advantage of simple levers and easy-to-grip handles. Many adjustments can be made without additional tools as simple, single-handed actions. Requiring less time and effort to make equipment modifications helps to create safer, more comfortable working conditions for machine operators.

Premium Quick-Adjust Products from Stafford Manufacturing

Our quick-adjust product line encompasses a variety of products designed to make equipment adjustments fast and easy. It includes:

  • Clamp-on Wrenches: One- and two-piece aluminum split clamps with knurled edges for easily turning shafts, hex nuts, or pipes of varying sizes.
  • Grip & Go Quick Release Handles: Standard, metric, and high-torque, knurled handles for making swift adjustments on parts and equipment, so that a single, versatile tool replaces a wrench and clamp screw.
  • Python Quick Adjust Products: Powerful, lever-based clamps with thumbscrew tensioning for rapid adjustments, available with round bores as standard and square, hex, threaded, and metric bores available on request.
  • Wrenching Collars: Firm clamping power with exterior wrenching flats for achieving needed adjustments and torque without damaging rods or pipes, available in two-piece and hinged styles.

Contact Our Experts for Quick-Adjust Collars, and Other Solutions

At Stafford Manufacturing, we have decades of experience fabricating and innovating our extensive lines of specialty components to streamline and improve processes and productivity for industries and manufacturers across the globe. Thousands of in-stock shaft collars, couplings, clamps, and related components with custom capabilities position us as an industry leader in solving problems for linear motion, assembly, automation, and other mechanical applications.

Contact our team today to learn more about our products and capabilities or request a quote for your next project.

Stafford’s New Quick Adjust Line: Python™ Flange Mounting Collars

Our new Quick Adjust line will optimize your operational efficiency with user-friendly shaft collars, specially designed for easy one-handed installation and quicker, more convenient adjustments. The Python™ Quick Adjust Line redesigns the standard flange collar to make it easier to install and adjust as needed.

Stafford specializes in developing innovative products built for lasting performance in fast-paced environments, and our premium quick-adjust products are used across a variety of industries. Learn more about our new Python™ Quick Adjust Line and the two collars in this evolving product line.

Introducing the New Python™ Quick Adjust Line

Shaft collars frequently need repositioning and changes, but conventional shaft collars can’t keep pace with busy facilities that have strict up-time schedules. When the hardware needs to be disassembled, moved, and reassembled, that cuts into valuable operational hours. The Python™ Quick Adjust Line from Stafford incorporates quick-adjust technology so your technicians can make fast changes. These collars can be adjusted with one hand and minimal disruption so you can maintain quality standards, adjust hardware to meet changing needs, or make repairs. They also require no tools, further simplifying the task. 

Take a closer look at our two Python™ collars: the Python™ Flange Mounting Collar and Python™ Flange Collar. Operators can quickly adjust the tension and positioning of either collar with a single hand or set up stops for even easier use. The collar is easy to adjust and withstands axial loads of up to 200 pounds, making it a good fit for linear, low-speed RPM systems. Python™ collars are available in different styles based on:

  • Material: Standard is aluminum,  with steel & stainless available on request.
  • Bore shape: Round bore is standard; square, hexagon, and threaded bores on request.
  • Sizes: Imperial and metric size variations are available

Some of the key advantages quick-adjust components offer include faster adjustments and easier handling, but the benefits go even deeper. By simplifying small adjustments, technicians can more easily fine-tune the performance of the entire system, increasing performance and versatility. Manufacturers can use quick-adjust collars to produce controlled variations, ensure standard production quality, and operate as efficiently as possible with minimal downtime.

Python™ Flange Mounting Collar

This mounting collar gets its signature adjustability from its Flip-Lok clamping lever that operators can use to adjust the collar with no tools. Once the level is engaged, technicians can adjust and reclamp the collar without needing a wrench. Every collar has a six-hole bolt pattern so it can be mounted on virtually any system with low, linear RPM rotational power.

The key advantages of the Python™ Flange Mounting Collar are:

  • Fast, tool-free positioning
  • Six-bolt design for ease of mounting.
  • Ability to set stops

PythonFlange Collar

This collar has a split hub flange design for easy installation. Because of the split design, it can accommodate a variety of shaft sizes. The collar itself does not have mounting hardware but can be used as a mounting surface for other hardware. Manufacturers can use this collar in linear and low-speed rotary motion applications such as managing paper rolls, handling laboratory equipment, and bagging or packaging. The flange collar comes in a range of sizes from  3/8″ to 1-1/4″ in both imperial and metric. Its Flip-Lok Quick Release Clamp makes it easy to reposition the collar, clamp it tightly in position, and ensure it’s properly set up for a variety of manufacturing applications.

Contact Our Experts for Premium Quick Adjust Products 

Investing in easily adjustable collars and hardware makes it simpler than ever to fine-tune your facility’s manufacturing and processing systems so you can optimize for quality and performance without compromising on speed and efficiency. 

At Stafford Manufacturing, we design and develop quick-adjust products and a diverse catalog of shaft collars, coupling, and adapters for virtually every manufacturing application, and we’ve been serving our clients with high-quality products for nearly 50 years. Reach out today to learn more about our new Python™ Quick Adjust Line.

Quick Adjust Products From Stafford

When you need to make frequent alterations to the positioning of shaft collars, incorporating quick adjust products allows for faster assembly, disassembly, and adjustment of components for optimal convenience. At Stafford Manufacturing Corp., we deliver a variety of quick adjust products to help simplify and speed up any rapid-change applications. Our quick adjust line includes wrenching collars, clamp-on wrenches, and Grip & Go™ Quick Release products as well as our new Python™ Line Stop Collar and Flange Mount Collar. Read on to learn more about these offerings and their benefits.

What Does Quick Adjust Mean?

Quick adjust is a category of products often related to maintenance and repair tools but can be used in any situation where there is a need for rapid or frequent changes in location. These products allow for quick, simple repositioning of collars on a shaft to fine-tune system performance or adjust a component to reflect changes in its environment. Using quick adjust products allows adjustment with minimal or no tools, preventing time lost searching for the right wrench.

Wrenching Collars

Shaft Wrenching Collars, two-piece

A wrenching collar is a shaft collar variety that has wrenching flats, enabling users to quickly and easily use a standard open-end wrench to make adjustments to the part placement. Stafford offers two-piece split and hinge-style wrenching collars in the following types:

The hinge-style collars utilize a captive screw to facilitate installation. Available in bore sizes ranging from 1/4 inch to as large as 1 1/2 inch, our wrenching collars have wrenching flats on their outer diameter (OD) for compatibility with standard open-end wrenches.

Clamp-On Wrenches

adjustable wrench collars, hex

These adjustable wrench collars offer high versatility and ease of use, quickly clamping around a standard pipe, a shaft, or a hex nut. Tightened with a twist of the wrist, these knurled collars form a strong hold that’s still easily adjustable for your application and positioning needs. They are simple to grip and manually turn to secure, but still allow for conventional wrenches when high torquing is required.

Made of anodized aluminum to give them a finish that’s both durable and aesthetically pleasing, Stafford’s selection of clamp-on wrenches includes:

Grip & Go Quick Release Handle

Grip & Go™ Quick Release Clamping Handle

Stafford’s Grip & Go Quick Release line consists of multiple handle options for convenient, rapid linear adjustments. A single Grip & Go Handle replaces a clamp screw and a wrench. The product line is advantageous for its:


  • Fast repositioning capabilities.
    With Grip & Go Quick Release products, you’ll use the product handles rather than a wrench to easily make clamping collar adjustments, enabling rapid linear repositioning along the shaft as often as necessary.
  • Diversity. This product line offers high versatility in positioning capabilities and applications in a variety of material options. Grip & Go Quick Release handles are ideal for tasks such as adjusting for table height or stroke length, enabling linear alterations to feed components, or holding test instruments. They’re available in aluminum, steel, and stainless steel.
  • Simplified design. Utilizing a single-handle design for faster modifications, these products also eliminate the need for a separate standard wrench and clamp screw.
  • Easy-to-grip handles. The knurled grip along the OD ensures a firm grasp for fast adjustments without slippage, even in the presence of oil and related substances.
  • Metric thread and high torque product varieties. Both metric thread and high torque versions of our products are available in the Grip & Go Quick Release line, each uniquely tailored to meet your application’s requirements. The metric thread variety is compatible with metric clamp-style shaft collars and comes in a variety of thread sizes. The handle of the high torque version has both a hole for a screwdriver shaft or rod to increase tightening force and wrench flats for tightening with a standard wrench.

Examples from the Grip & Go Quick Release product line include:

Python Quick Adjust Line

Python Flange Mounting Collar

The Python™ Flange Mounting Collar utilizes a lever-operated clamp featuring a thumbscrew tension nut to quickly make manual adjustments to collar positioning without requiring tools. It consists of black-anodized aluminum – and stainless steel or steel, upon request – and is designed with a keyway and six-hole bolt pattern. While it allows for fast alterations, it delivers a tight clamp able to withstand up to 200 lbs. of axial load. Its applications include:

  • Fast repositioning without tools
  • Setting stops
  • Driving rotating parts at low and linear RPMs

These quick adjust collars are available in square, hexagon, and threaded bores and come in an array of sizes based on imperial or metric measurements. Stafford also offers the Python™ Shaft Collar, a similar flange collar but with a split hub. 

Choose Stafford Manufacturing for Quick Adjust Products

Quick adjust products from Stafford allow frequent linear adjustments quickly and easily while maintaining a secure hold. We offer high-performance, problem-solving components and custom capabilities to ensure you receive the right shaft collar, coupling, clamp, or related precision product for the job. 

Contact us to purchase any of our quick adjust maintenance, repair, retrofit, and accessory products, or request a quote today.

Advantages of Accu-Clamp™ Precision Products

Stafford Manufacturing produces high-quality rigid shaft couplings, clamping shaft collars, and specialty components with experience dating back half a century. Stafford’s Accu-Clamp ™ products feature both a non-clamping section and a clamping section. The non-clamping section consists of a rigid bore capable of maintaining shape during use without flexing or distorting. The cantilevered clamping section offers flexible, proportionally distributed, non-marring holding power.

Our patented Accu-Clamp ™ products take the benefits of clamping collars to the next level. They feature a unique construction, offering several functional advantages not possible with standard clamping collars. The close-tolerance, highly precise design of these products makes them suitable for a diverse range of applications.

Benefits of the Accu-Clamp™ Precision Product Line

The Accu-Clamp ™ design contains a non-clamping section and a clamping section and is available on a wide range of  Stafford catalog items as well as specialty parts designed to a customer’s unique needs . 

Featuring a unique construction, Stafford’s Accu-Clamp ™ products have a precision machined face that is flat to the shaft within 0.001 TIR. They feature a slotless design, allowing for an uninterrupted outside diameter surface that can be machined, knurled, or profiled to meet the demands of any application. The slotless design also means that the face offers a full 360° surface that can be hardened, ground, flanged, or machined to meet various mounting and tolerance requirements or to be outfitted with features such as:

  • Springs
  • Mounting holes
  • Slotted mounting holes
  • Dowel pins
  • O-ring grooves for sealing
  • Sensor holes
  • Face cams

Accu-Clamp™ Precision Product Line

One-Piece and Two-Piece Split ACCU-CLAMP™ Collars

Accu-Clamp™ Collars combine a non-marring clamp with a solid working face that is either fully machineable or hardened and ground. The machineable Accu-Clamp™ Collar can be used as is, or modified by drilling, tapping, threading, turning, knurling, etc. The precision machined face of the clamp is flat to the shaft within 0.001 TIR and has a slotless design, providing a full 360° surface that can be knurled, profiled, or machined to meet various mounting and tolerance requirements. The hardened and ground Accu-Clamp™ Collar provides an ultra-precise bearing surface for applications that require extreme squareness and flatness. 

The one-piece split version is ideal when the user has access to the shaft end. The two-piece split version can be completely disassembled and placed anywhere on a shaft and does not require access to the shaft-end.

ACCU-CLAMP™ Threaded Split Shaft Collars

ACCU-CLAMP™ Threaded Shaft Collars are available in one-piece and two-piece designs to provide a square and rigid method for mounting components on a UNF/UNC threaded shaft. The one-piece design is suitable for applications where there is access to the shaft end. The unique clamp design distributes holding power evenly for superior performance. The two-piece split shaft collar features a clamp-style design that enables easy installation and adjustment without disassembling the shaft. 

The Accu-Clamp™ Threaded Collar combines a non-marring clamp with a solid working face that is fully machineable. It can be used as is, or modified by drilling, tapping, threading, turning, knurling, etc.

ACCU-MOUNT™ Collars

The Accu-Mount™ Collar features one solid, square and flat side, with four component mounting holes, along with a centering hub, and a second side that securely clamps to a shaft. Providing a square and rigid method for mounting sprockets, gears, pulleys, lever arms, and related components, they prevent slippage or wobble and can be easily repositioned on the shaft.

ACCU-FLANGE™ Shaft Mounting Collar and ACCU-FLANGE™ Shaft Collars (English and Metric)

Accu-Flange™ Mounting Collar is a machineable flange collar that can be configured by the user to perform a wide range of applications such as a pulley, cam, or component mounting device. Featuring an integral clamp incorporating a double-split design and relief groove, this clamping flange collar retains its perpendicularity, will not mar expensive shafts, and is easy to adjust. A standard keyway, along with through holes and three tapped holes are incorporated into the design.

The user-machineable Accu-Flange™ Shaft Collar also lets designers rapidly develop a custom solution from a standard product line and then order parts machined to specification in production quantities if required. The flange has no holes and allows users to make their own hole patterns if mounting is required

One-Piece and Two-Piece Split Precision Sleeve Couplings with Keyways (English or Metric)

Stafford’s exclusive Precision Sleeve Coupling features a solid center section that provides a close tolerance fit on ground shafting, includes a keyway, and the Accu-Clamp™ design which incorporates integral self-centering clamping collars at both ends. They are available in one-and two-piece styles in both English and Metric versions. 

To assure precise shaft alignment, it maintains <.001″ TIR concentricity while in use and ensures that the shafts can be mated with zero backlash . It is precision machined, non-marring, easy to adjust, with high clamping power.

Two-Piece Split Precision Sleeve Hex Bore and Square Bore Couplings

Stafford’s Two-Piece Split Precision Sleeve Hex Bore and Square Bore Couplings are designed to provide accurate and reliable transmission of torque between shafts. They feature a solid center section that provides a close tolerance fit on ground shafting, and the Accu-Clamp™ design which incorporates integral self-centering clamping collars at both ends. These couplings feature a two-piece split design, which facilitates easy installation and removal without disturbing the shaft or other components. They are available with both hex bore and square bore configurations to suit your particular shaft requirements. They maintain <.001″ TIR concentricity while in use, ensuring precise shaft alignment and zero backlash.

Precision Sleeve Flange Couplings

The Precision Sleeve Flange coupling allows for mounting components such as gears, motors, brake assemblies etc. to the coupling. The flange includes three through holes and three tapped holes.

It features a solid center section that provides a close tolerance fit on ground shafting, includes a keyway, and the Accu-Clamp™ design which incorporates integral self-centering clamping collars at both ends.

To assure precise shaft alignment, it maintains <.001 TIR concentricity while in use. It is precision machined, non-marring, easy to adjust, with high clamping power.

Flange Adapter Rings

Designed as an add-on component for the Accu-Flange™ Collars and Precision Sleeve Flange Couplings, the adapter rings extend the outer diameter of the flange on the product. Excellent for adding a mounting flange to a pre-existing collar or coupling.

Available Customizations 

Custom solutions, such as modified standard products, offer quick and affordable resolutions to unique problems. Typical modifications can include, but are not limited to:

  • Modified Bores: intermediate sizing, keyways, spherical, non-standard threading
  • Collar Face Modifications: holes (including through, blind, tapped, counterbored, and more), slots, hubs, and ‘O’ ring grooves
  • Modified Outside Diameters: knurling, cam surfaces, flats for mounting or wrenching, notches, pulley grooves, holes
  • Custom Configurations for Shaft-Extender Shat Ends: adding pins, tabs, buttons, bumpers, and balancing
  • Fully Customized Product Designs: extra heavy duty, extra-large shafts, instrument styles, miniature sizes, multi-screw set collars, mounting features, balancing, hinged flange clamps, and more
  • 3D Prototype and Printed Products
  • Composite Parts and Molded Urethane
  • Special Hardware: nut and bolt combos, integral tightening handle, non-standard screws, pins, bumpers, springs, and more

Special Requests are welcome and handled with expert care. Materials, treatments, holes, slots, and more can be modified easily for customer’s unique needs. Surface treatments, hardening, laser etching,  plating, painting, anodizing, passivating, case hardening, and special materials that can be thru-hardened are all available options with Stafford.

Precise Clamping Shaft Collars and Rigid Shaft Couplings by Stafford Manufacturing

For high-quality clamping shaft collars and rigid couplings of all varieties, our experts at  Stafford Manufacturing have the knowledge and equipment to find a solution to your needs quickly. Contact us to order standard catalog coupling or collaring products. Request a quote for custom products, full designs, and machining needs.

Features of Shaft Collars: Three Unique Ways to Use a Shaft Collar

Shaft collars attach to shafts and other pieces of hardware to affix components in place. They can grip bearings in the right position, act as mechanical stops to halt rotary motion along the shaft, and ensure internal components don’t shift into misalignment. Because these components are so versatile, they come in a wide range of options for different industrial and commercial applications. 

At Stafford, our experienced team of engineers specializes in creating sturdy, high-performance shaft collars for virtually any configuration. Learn more about the six most common types of shaft collars and their role in food processing, conveyance systems, and heavy-duty machinery.

Types of Shaft Collars

Depending on your machinery setup and your mounting needs, there are multiple different shaft collars available. These different varieties are classified based on how accessible the shaft is and the axial hold required. Clamp shaft collars, for example, clamp onto the shaft instead of requiring a set-screw for attaching to the shaft. Some of the most popular options include balanced, hinged, set screw, single split, double split, and threaded shaft collars. Take a deeper look at the different options: 

  • Set Screw Shaft Collars: This collar is solid. It doesn’t have any relief cuts, and it doesn’t split into different sections. Instead, the set screw shaft collar is put into position and then affixed to the shaft by a tightened set screw that runs from the outer to the inner diameter of the collar.
  • Single Split Shaft Collars: This type of collar has one slot opening that allows for sliding the collar onto the shaft and then clamping it down. The slot can be opened and closed with a hex screw. The advantage of this model is that it’s easy to install, however, it doesn’t have the same uniform gripping strength as two-piece clamping collars and cannot be used where the shaft end is inaccessible.
  • Double Split Shaft Collars: These two-piece collars have two halves that are joined together by two socket cap screws. This allows for easy installation, as they can be installed either axially or radially. They also have a more uniform distribution of holding power than one-piece split collars.
  • Threaded Shaft Collars: These collars have an internally threaded clamp so they can be installed over a matching threaded shaft. Not only do the threads ensure the placement is exactly right, but the shaft is designed for supporting heavy axial loads. Threaded shaft collars are available in both single-split and double-split varieties.
  • Balanced Collars: Balanced collars are built to reduce vibration and shaking on a spinning shaft. They also help ensure an even distribution of the load weight. They feature a design similar to a double-split shaft collar, but the attaching screws sit opposite each other to provide even distribution. 
  • Hinged Collars: Hinged collars have a triple-link hinge and a captive clamping mechanism. This allows the collar to open easily, be positioned and then clamped shut. As a self-contained unit, there is never a risk of loose screws.

Each of these shaft collars can play a critical role in the integrity of your equipment or facility systems.

Food Processing

In food processing systems, shaft collars can help at every stage of production and packaging. Shaft collars can help ensure consistent spacing between moving and weight-bearing elements, including supporting weight-bearing components and ensuring gears stay in the correct alignment during operation. Some key applications include:

  • Guiding and stopping parts
  • Mounting, aligning, and spacing components

At Stafford Manufacturing, we construct all of our shaft collars with a smooth, burr-free finish that mitigates the risk of buildup and bacteria. Our collars are available in several types of stainless steel, making them ideal for situations requiring corrosion resistance or the ability to withstand frequent washdowns.

  • Affordable Cost
  • Wide Variety of Materials
  • Mounting Capabilities
  • Variety of Styles to Suit your Needs
  • Alignment Capabilities
  • Easy Assembly 

Conveying

Shaft collars are common in conveyor systems because they ensure all of the moving parts stay in alignment and can handle the weight of different loads. One common application of shaft collars in conveying is to keep the rollers consistently placed and aligned. Shaft collars from Stafford are built with sturdy, long-lasting materials that comply with today’s construction and industrial regulations.

Heavy-Duty Machinery

Heavy-duty machinery, like cranes and bulk industrial equipment, needs large, heavy-duty shaft collars that can ensure adequate weight-bearing capabilities. Collars from Stafford are built to secure shafts and axles, support weight, and stop movement as needed for smooth system operation.

Learn More About Shaft Collars From Stafford

The team at Stafford Manufacturing is here to help provide the right shaft collars for any application, from food processing centers that need to tightly control the risk of contamination to paper and pulp facilities that manage heavy loads. Contact us today to learn more or request a quote to start your order. 

 

Accommodating Bore Configurations for Your Shaft Collar or Coupling

Stafford Manufacturing Corp. designs and manufactures rigid couplings, shaft collars, and specialty mechanical parts used in automation, power transmission, motion control, and other OEM and MRO applications. We have collars and couplings available in square, threaded, hexagonal, keyed, and round bore configurations. In addition, we can add drive slots, press-fits, pulleys, or other special parts to meet your needs.

Here you’ll learn about each of these bore options and how to decide on the ideal shaft collar or coupling for your application. 

 

Types of Collar and Coupling Bore Configurations

Shaft collars and rigid couplings are machine components that slide over a shaft and lock into place with either set-screws or with clamping screws. They have three primary functions:

  • Holding components in place
  • Creating a connection between a shaft and another component
  • Positioning or locating parts along a shaft

Manufacturers supply variations of collars and couplings in different sizes, designs, and materials to fit a wide range of applications. Some of the common  shaft collar bore configurations include:

  • Round 
  • Threaded
  • Square
  • Hex
  • Keyed

 

Round Bores

As one of the most popular bore configurations, round shaft collars and couplings are used in various power transmission, motion control, and mounting applications. Serving as locators, spacers, bearing faces, or stops, they are most often used on shafts, tubing, pipes, and split hubs.

Round bore configurations are found in the following products:

  • One-piece shaft collars
  • Two-piece shaft collars
  • Hinge shaft collars
  • Threaded shaft collars
  • Heavy-duty shaft collars

Browse Stafford Manufacturing’s full selection of round bore shaft collars in our catalog

Browse Stafford Manufacturing’s full selection of round bore rigid couplings in our catalog

Round Bore Threaded Coupling
Round Bore Shaft Collar

 

Threaded Bores

Threaded shaft collars have a threaded interior that matches with certain threaded shafts. These provide superior grip, suitable for uses that require precise preload and location settings. Threaded shaft collars act as a stop to position parts or prevent them from moving along the shaft. 

Threaded bore configurations are found in the following products:

  • One-piece or two-piece split clamp UNF/ UNC Threaded Bore Shaft Collars
  • One-piece or two-piece Accu-Clamp™ Threaded Shaft Collars
  • One-piece or two-piece ACME Threaded Collars
  • One-piece or two-piece UNF/UNC Threaded Split Hub Collars
  • Threaded Hinge collars

See the threaded shaft collars we provide

Threaded Shaft Collar
Threaded Hinge Shaft Collar

 

Square and Hex Bores

Stafford Manufacturing produces hexagonal and square shaft collars and couplings to fit onto hexagonal and square-shaped shafts. Square and hex shaft couplings and collars are easy to install and customize with mounting capabilities if necessary. They provide high clamping power and are primarily used in food processing and conveyor systems. 

Square bore configurations are available in:

  • Two-piece split clamp styles collars
  • Mounting two-piece stackable styles collars
  • Precision Sleeve Rigid Couplings

Hex bore configurations are available in:

  • One-piece split clamp styles
  • Two-piece split clamp styles.
  • Precision Sleeve Rigid Couplings

Look through our full selection of hex and square shaft collars and couplings here.

Hex Bore Precision Rigid Coupling
Hex Bore Shaft Collar
Square Bore Precision Rigid Coupling
Square Bore Shaft Collar

 

Keyway

Shaft couplings can be configured with keyways, but they are not always required. They should be utilized for couplings designed to support radial alignment and loads with high torque. Determine whether radial alignment or additional torque will affect the system’s overall operation, and then use that analysis to decide whether you need a keyway.

Keyed Rigid Coupling
Keyed Shaft Collar

 

Selecting Your Shaft Collar or Coupling Configuration

The right shaft collar or coupling is the one that fits your configuration and application.  In some cases, a certain type of configuration may be better than other options (i.e.  square, hex, and keyed shafts can handle more torque). Keyed shafts in particular have a locking position that makes accommodating higher torques possible.

Standard bores are cost-effective options that fit most basic applications. Stafford Manufacturing carries round, threaded, square, hex, and keyed bores as standard products, so our customers can rely on us to have what they need, when they need it. In addition, Stafford is the only stocking manufacturer of a full line of square and hex bore products.

While standard bore products serve most applications at the lowest cost, some applications require customized collars or coupling bores. Stafford has been manufacturing custom shaft collars and couplings for over 47 years and we can produce to your exact needs at a fair price with no minimum order quantity.

Stafford Is Your Custom Shaft Collar and Coupling Manufacturer

Stafford Manufacturing has nearly 50 years of industry experience. As an ISO 9001:2015-certified business, our staff has the quality control standards in place to produce the highest quality shaft collars and rigid couplings. We have a large selection of products, which enables us to assist you in selecting the ideal bore configuration for your particular needs and price range. If you can’t find a shaft collar or coupling that meets your needs, we will collaborate closely with you to design and produce a custom solution.

Contact us or request a quote today to learn more about our standard and custom offerings. 

 

How to Connect Shafts

 Shaft couplings play a key role in transferring power or torque for motors, pumps, compressors, conveyors, turbines, and other mechanical equipment. Rigid shaft couplings can achieve this goal and allow for different types of shaft connections. Stepped couplings can be used for connecting different size shafts.  Shaft adapters can solve compatibility issues, such as changes in shaft size or length. Inch-to-metric couplings can solve incompatibilities occurring when mating an English shaft to a metric one.  Custom shaft couplings and adapters can accommodate unusual variations or configurations not satisfied by standard products.

Stafford Manufacturing produces shaft collars, rigid shaft couplings, and specialty mechanical products for motion control, power transmission, automation, and other MRO and OEM applications. Here we’ll discuss how to connect shafts, including those with different sizes, measurement systems, and other specifications.

 

Two-Piece Split Clamp-Style Coupling

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What If I Have Two Different Sized Shafts?

Connecting shafts of different sizes is a common issue that can be solved with compatible rigid shaft couplings. Designed for perfectly aligned shafts, rigid shaft couplings mate shafts with identical or different diameters while maintaining high torque transfer and preventing backlash. Many configurations of our shaft couplings have stepped bores to connect shafts that differ in size. We offer standard and custom versions of these types of rigid shaft couplings:

 

Two-Piece Split Precision Sleeve Coupling with Keyways

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 What If Need a Close Tolerance Fit?

A close tolerance fit is a necessity whenever you are putting the coupling on a precision machined shaft. Precision sleeve couplings are uniquely suited for applications requiring extremely precise machined shaft alignment and a close tolerance shaft-to-coupling fit.

 

Stafford’s exclusive Precision Sleeve Coupling features a solid center section that provides a close tolerance fit on ground shafting, includes a keyway, and the Accu-Clamp™ design which incorporates integral self-centering clamping collars at both ends. This product assures shaft alignment with zero backlash. To assure precise shaft alignment, it maintains <.001″ TIR concentricity while in use. It is precision machined, non-marring, easy to adjust, with high clamping power.

Stafford offers the following types of Precision Sleeve Couplings:

 

Inch-Metric Conversion Coupling

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What If I’m Connecting an Inch Shaft to a Metric Shaft?

Inch-metric conversion couplings have a bore on one side measured in inches and the other side in a metric size. Stafford Manufacturing carries a full range of common sizes in our selection of inch-metric conversion couplings. External dimensions and screws are in inches. These couplings can be further modified to include keyways if needed.

Our inch-metric conversion couplings can mate inch and metric shafts with zero backlash and smooth bores, which protect the shafts from damage. They have superior torque capacity compared to set screw type couplings.

Stafford offers the following types of inch-metric conversion couplings:

 

Step-Up Shaft Adapter

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What If I Need a Shaft Adapter?

While shaft couplings can connect shafts of different diameters, shaft adapters enable connections when:

  • One or both shafts are not long enough to be effectively connected with a coupling
  • Shafts differ in diameter and a coupling does not accommodate the difference
  • Shaft damage would result in a poor transfer of power or motion
  • Shaft replacement is not recommended due to cost or other considerations

Available in step-up or step-down configurations, shaft adapters act as both an extension to an existing shaft and as a way to increase or decrease shaft diameter using a straight-bore or standard stepped-bore coupling. Our rigid shaft adapters use a clamp-style attachment to avoid shaft damage and come in keyed and keyless styles. 

 

Rigid Shaft Coupling Configurator

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None of These Work for Me — What Do I Do?

Uncommon sizes or combinations of shaft diameters, shapes, keyways, or other configurations can be solved with custom shaft couplings or adapters, avoiding the need for complete shaft replacement or system reconfiguration. Customers can custom-design couplings through our rigid shaft coupling configurator tool, which can provide product recommendations based on your specifications.

Because manufacturing custom parts is our specialty, our expert team welcomes requests for customized rigid couplings to meet your precise requirements. Custom modifications we commonly make include:

  • Bores: adjustments for special diameters, keyways, and threadings
  • Outside Diameters: surface modifications (e.g. knurling, flats, pulley grooves, notches)
  • Holding Power: adjustments for extra heavy-duty operation
  • Circumferential Keyways: to control axial shift
  • Shaft Shapes: to connect different shaped shafts
  • Balancing: to minimize misalignment, vibration, and wear
  • Materials & Finishes: meeting customer material or surface finishing requirements
  • Shaft Extenders: to accommodate length, duty, configuration, or other needs

Customers may also modify our fully machinable Shaft Adapter Max to meet their specific needs. It is available with keyways or without, offering multiple configurations to easily extend and adapt for hex, square, or threaded shafts.

Custom Fabrication by Stafford Manufacturing

At Stafford Manufacturing, we pride ourselves on our wide range of standard shaft couplings, collars, adapters, and related products. Our innovative designs, extensive catalog of stock components, and customization capabilities illustrate our commitment to industry-leading components and customer service. Contact us to learn more about our standard and custom components for power transmission, motion control, automation, and related applications, or request a quote for your next project.

 

 

Stafford Manufacturing Corp.

256 Andover St.

Wilmington, MA 01887

Phone: 978.657.8000

Email: sales@staffordmfg.com

Website: https://www.staffordmfg.com

 

What Is the Best Coupling for a Mixer?

large industrial batter mixerMixers are common industrial devices that consist of a motor and a propeller or paddle with a coupling acting as the connection point. Mixers are flexible, adaptable pieces of equipment found in a range of industries, from food processing to mining to chemical facilities.

Choosing the correct coupling for a mixer can be challenging as it needs to have an exact, rigid fit . This blog will highlight how to determine the right coupling for your mixer and how our configurator tool can help you configure your rigid coupling to your needs.

 

What Is a Rigid Coupling?

Unlike flexible couplings, a rigid coupling does not allow any radial or axial motion between the driving shaft and the driven unit. It is primarily used for vertical applications. Rigid coupling types include:

  • One-piece split couplings when there is access to both the motor shaft end and the paddle attachment.
  • Two-piece split couplings for easy assembly when in-line installation is needed.
  • Three-piece split couplings when the end of the shaft will remain fixed while the other is moved or changed (very common for mixer situations when paddles would be changed or replaced).
  • Flanged couplings when mounting options are needed.

On mixers, the motor is bearing-supported, but the shaft on the impeller side is not. Using a flexible coupling would require close bearing support on the paddle, but the sleeve-like design of rigid couplings eliminates the need for a bearing to support the paddle. This makes rigid couplings the only viable option for mixers.

Rigid couplings have a simple and durable design, allowing greater transmission of power to mixers. They are more cost-effective than other options and offer more design flexibility. While requiring exact alignment between shafts, rigid couplings offer a stronger connection, higher torque, and more precision than flexible couplings.

 

havey duty rigid shaft coupling wiht a havy duty mixer in the backgroundAdvantages of Rigid Couplings for Mixers

Rigid couplings provide advantages, such as:

  • Excellent Torque Transmission: They can transfer torque efficiently between connected shafts.
  • Low Production Costs: Manufacturers such as Stafford Manufacturing can produce custom and standard rigid couplings at affordable prices.
  • Torsional Stiffness: Its high torsional stiffness enables better positioning.
  • High Precision: Rigid couplings offer high precision with almost no windup or backlash.
  • Alignment Capabilities: They can establish shaft alignment between the connected parts and the motor.
  • Easy Assembly: Rigid couplings have a simple design, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and maintenance operations throughout the coupling’s lifespan. 

 

Considerations for Selecting a Rigid Coupling for a Mixer

Choosing the best coupling for a mixer requires precision. Stafford Manufacturing’s configurator tool can help you customize a rigid coupling that suits your exact needs. Configure it by bore diameter, coupling style, coupling material, screw material, finish, and other options available upon request.

Here are more details about the top considerations for choosing a rigid coupling for a mixer.

Bore Diameter

Bore diameter ranges from ¼” to 4”. Choosing the right diameter is key to ensuring a  precise alignment.  

Coupling Style

Coupling styles include one-piece, two-piece, and three-piece. One-piece styles have high torque capacities, unlike set screw type couplings. Two-piece styles allow for easy assembly and adjustment. Three-piece styles are used to maintain one shaft’s positioning while the other is adjusted.

Material Selection

Material selection is based on the substance your coupling is exposed to. Coupling materials include brass, 303 and 304 stainless steel, weldable steel, carbon steel, and 2024 aluminum.

 

How to Choose the Best Coupling for a Mixerrigis shaft couplings for mixers

Consider these factors when deciding on the best coupling for your mixer:

  • Shaft size
  • Keyway size if needed
  • Required torque capacity
  • Bore diameter
  • Material requirements for specialized (i.e. food-grade) applications

Stafford’s rigid couplings meet these criteria as they are designed with end users’ needs in mind. Our rigid couplings come in different types, from the common one-piece split clamp coupling to precision sleeve couplings.

 

Choose Stafford as Your Coupling Manufacturer

Stafford is the leading manufacturer of high-quality shaft couplings and rigid couplings. With the help of our configurator tool, you can determine the right rigid coupling for your needs. Contact us to learn more or request a quote for our products.

General Precision Products

General Precision Products at Stafford

Stafford offers several types of general precision products including both machined components and sheet metal components and enclosures. A wide variety of options are available and can be custom designed to meet your unique applications.

  • Machined components. Machined components are created using various precision machining processes, such as CNC milling, waterjet cutting, laser engraving, welding, CNC turning, and more. Machined components are used throughout demanding industries that require extremely tight tolerances and high part-to-part repeatability. 
  • Sheet metal components. Sheet metal components are produced using techniques like bending, cutting, punching, welding, and more. Whether your application requires simple parts, mated assemblies, or full enclosures, Stafford’s sheet metal fabrication meets your exact requirements .
  • Enclosures. Off-the-shelf enclosures can be modified with processes like laser cutting, MIG/TIG welding, robotic welding, and more. Many industries like biomedicine and aerospace rely on fabricated enclosures to protect sensitive components.

Applications

Our machined and sheet metal components are used in countless industries, especially those requiring highly accurate and repeatable parts. Depending on the particular industry, general precision products can be either simple or complex and can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes to fit different needs. 

Examples of industries that rely on general precision products from Stafford Manufacturing include:  

  • Aerospace
  • Biomedicine
  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Medical
  • Optical
  • Automation

Capabilities: Stafford Manufacturing

At Stafford Manufacturing, our general precision capabilities include a range of machining and sheet metal fabrication processes. We can produce components in various sizes, shapes, and complexities to meet the needs of diverse industries. 

Our precision machining capabilities include:

  • CNC Milling
  • CNC Turn Mill
  • CNC Turning
  • CNC Bar-Fed Lathes
  • Waterjet Cutting
  • Laser Engraving
  • Welding
  • 3D Prototyping
  • Prototyping Machining

Our sheet metal fabrication capabilities include:

  • Bending
  • Cutting
  • Laser Etching
  • Punching
  • Welding
  • Hardware Insertion

Additionally, we deliver a range of secondary processes, including painting, plating, assembly, silk-screening, and more.

Finished Products for Complete Applications

Many advanced industries rely on precision products for various applications. At Stafford Manufacturing, we have the capabilities to deliver high-quality, accurate products using various machining and sheet metal fabrication techniques. Through our expertise and extensive capabilities, we can deliver the components you need with the utmost precision and repeatability. 

For more information about our general precision products and other capabilities, contact us or request a quote today.

Installation Guide for Rigid Shaft Couplings

Stafford Manufacturing Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a variety of shaft collars, specialty mechanical components, and rigid shaft couplings for use in many types of applications. At Stafford Manufacturing Corp., we offer a wide range of rigid couplings to allow two shafts to function as one.

When deciding on the right coupling for your application, one key factor will be whether you need a one-piece,  two-piece or three-piece coupling. One-piece clamp couplings offer zero backlash and feature high torsional holding power with no damage to the shafts. Two-piece couplings feature the same advantages, with the added benefit of allowing in-place service. Three-piece couplings allow you to keep one shaft in place while the other is changed.

In this guide, we’ll detail the steps for proper shaft coupling installation for the main types of rigid couplings, along with some factors that determine which couplings to use.

Materials

Based on an application’s specific requirements, rigid shaft couplings can consist of a vast array of materials, including 303, 316, and 304 stainless steel, 2024 aluminum, carbon steel or black oxide-finished carbon steel, or brass. The installation steps for rigid couplings will differ depending on the coupling type (one, two or three-piece).

Installation of a One-Piece Rigid CouplingInstallation of a One-Piece Rigid Coupling

The steps for installing a one-piece rigid coupling are as follows.

Alignment

Rigid couplings are used when an application requires coupling of two aligned shafts (they can be shafts of the same sizes or different sizes). High stress could result if axial or radial misalignment takes place, potentially causing failure so they are only to be used with unsupported or fully aligned shafts. Once connected to two shafts, rigid couplings will prevent any relative motion from occurring. One-piece rigid couplings ensure alignment.

Installation Process

When installing a one-piece rigid coupling, take these steps:

  1. Wipe any excess dirt or oil off the shaft as well as the  bore of the coupling.
  2. Slide one end of the coupling over its mating shaft until that shaft is 1/32” short of the cross slot
  3. Adjust the center screw to half of the recommended seating torque.
  4. Adjust the outer screw to half of the recommended seating torque.
  5. Slide the other shaft into the remaining end of the coupling until it is 1/32” short of the cross slot.
  6. Adjust the center screw to half of the recommended seating torque
  7. Adjust the outer screw to half of the recommended seating torque
  8. Use a torque wrench to fully adjust all screws to the recommended seating torque, going from the center screws to the outer screws.
  9. If possible, slowly rotate shafts to ensure proper alignment.

 

Installation of a Two-Piece Rigid CouplingInstallation of a Two-Piece Rigid Coupling

The steps for installing a two-piece rigid coupling are:

Alignment

Like one-piece rigid couplings, two-piece couplings are used to join two aligned shafts. The use of a two-piece coupling allows installation while both shafts remain in place.

Installation Process

The steps for installing a two-piece rigid coupling are:

  1. Wipe any dirt or excess oil off shafts and coupling bore.
  2. Assemble the top and bottom halves of the coupling over the two shafts, making sure that the ends with the face groove are together.
  3. Assemble the two-piece coupling to the point where there is mild resistance in the screws.
  4. Use a torque wrench to adjust the center screws to half of the recommended seating torque.
  5. Use the same wrench to adjust the outer screws to half of the recommended seating torque.
  6. Use the torque wrench to adjust all screws until they’re at the full recommended seating torque, starting with the center screws and completing the process with the outer screws.
  7. Ensure the clamping is even by checking that the slot  gap is the same on both sides
  8. If possible, slowly rotate shafts to ensure proper alignment.

 

Installation of a Three-Piece Rigid CouplingInstallation of a Three-Piece Rigid Coupling

The steps for installing a three-piece rigid coupling are:

Alignment

Designed for aligned shafts, the three-piece clamp coupling makes two shafts function as one. It can remain fixed to one shaft while the other is moved or changed, or come completely apart to allow the most convenient assembly and adjustment.

Installation Process

The following are the steps for installing a three-piece rigid coupling:

  1. Wipe any dirt or excess oil off shafts and coupling bore.
  2. Assemble the ends of the coupling with the matching face groove onto its mating shaft
  3. 3. Use a torque wrench to adjust the center screws to half of the recommended seating torque.
  4. Use the same wrench to adjust the outer screws to half of the recommended seating torque.
  5. Mate the other shaft with the open end of the coupling and loosely assemble the coupling top, making sure that the machined end is towards the outside..
  6. Use the torque wrench to adjust the center screws to half the recommended seating torque
  7. Use the same wrench to adjust the outer screws to half the recommended seating torque.
  8. Use the torque wrench to adjust all screws until they’re at the full recommended seating torque, starting with the center screws and completing the process with the outer screws.
  9. Ensure the clamping is even by checking the saw slot gap.
  10. If possible, slowly rotate shafts to ensure proper alignment.

 

High-Quality Rigid Shaft Couplings from Stafford Manufacturing Corporation

If your application requires rigid couplings, please check out our wide variety of couplings, precision couplings, and shaft adaptors at www.staffordmfg.com. Applications include motion control, power transmission, automation, and other types of MRO and OEM applications for consumer or industrial products.

To find out more about our products and custom capabilities, contact us today with any questions or request a quote for our products.