Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-01-28 Origin: Site
In today's era of industrial automation moving towards high-speed and precision upgrades, high-end equipment such as servo motors, CNC machine tools, and semiconductor devices have imposed stringent requirements on the rigidity, response speed, and positioning accuracy of transmission systems. As a metal leaf spring coupling specifically developed for precision transmission scenarios, the SFC Coupling has become a key component connecting power sources and actuators, thanks to its core advantages of zero backlash, high rigidity, and low inertia. It is widely used in various high-end industrial applications, perfectly meeting the dual demands of high-precision positioning and high-speed operation, and safeguarding the efficient and stable operation of equipment.
I. Understanding SFC Coupling: Definition and Core Design Philosophy
The full name of SFC Coupling is SERVOFLEX SFC Coupling, with its core positioning as a "specialized connector for high-end precision transmission". It belongs to the servo flexible coupling series, tailor-made for precision equipment such as servo motors, stepping motors, and encoders. Its core design philosophy is "balancing rigidity and flexibility, and integrating precision and efficiency". By adopting metal leaf springs as elastic transmission elements, it achieves gap-free power transmission while compensating for minor deviations during equipment installation, avoiding the impact of vibration and shock on transmission precision.
Compared with ordinary flexible couplings, the core difference of SFC Coupling lies in "precision adaptation" — abandoning traditional rubber elastic components and using stainless steel leaf springs as the transmission core. It not only retains the high rigidity and impact resistance of metal materials but also realizes micro-deviation compensation through the flexible deformation of leaf springs, fundamentally solving the pain points of ordinary couplings such as excessive backlash, insufficient rigidity, and delayed response, and accurately matching the extreme requirements of high-end equipment for transmission precision.
II. Core Features of SFC Coupling: Four Major Advantages Empowering Precision Transmission
The reason why SFC Coupling
Zero Backlash Transmission for Maximum Positioning Accuracy: This is the most core advantage of SFC Coupling. Through the integrated precision assembly of metal leaf springs and hubs, it eliminates gaps during transmission, ensuring lag-free and deviation-free power transmission. The positioning accuracy can reach the micron level, perfectly adapting to equipment with high positioning accuracy requirements such as servo systems and encoders, and effectively avoiding equipment errors caused by backlash.
High Rigidity + High Response for High-Speed Operation: Adopting a combination of high-strength aluminum alloy hubs and stainless steel leaf springs, it has extremely high torsional rigidity, which is not easy to deform during high-speed operation. It can quickly respond to changes in the rotational speed of the power source without elastic hysteresis; at the same time, the maximum speed can reach 10,000 r/min, adapting to high-end and high-speed equipment such as high-speed spindles and centrifuges, while balancing transmission efficiency and operational stability.
Low Inertia Design to Reduce Equipment Load: The hub is made of lightweight high-strength aluminum alloy, and the optimized structural design achieves reduced moment of inertia. It can effectively reduce the starting load and energy consumption of servo motors, reduce the impact during equipment start-up and shutdown, extend the service life of motors and couplings, and improve the dynamic response speed of equipment, adapting to the precision transmission needs of small and medium-capacity servo motors and stepping motors.
Flexible Compensation for Complex Installation Conditions: It is divided into two structures: single-element (SA type) and double-element (DA type). The single-element type focuses on rigidity, while the double-element type enhances flexibility through the configuration of spacers. It can accurately compensate for minor radial, angular, and axial deviations (radial deviation: 0.02~0.2mm, angular deviation: ≤0.5°), eliminating the need for strict shaft alignment, reducing equipment installation difficulty, and absorbing slight vibrations to protect equipment shaft ends and bearings.
III. Core Structure, Models, and Specification Parameters of SFC Coupling
The SFC Coupling has a compact structure and convenient assembly, mainly composed of three parts. All components undergo precision processing to ensure transmission accuracy and structural stability, adapting to the rigorous requirements of industrial precision transmission:
Hub: Made of high-strength aluminum alloy, it is lightweight yet high in strength. It adopts a clamp-type hub design, enabling convenient installation and firm connection. It can achieve tight fixation between the shaft and the coupling without keyways. Customized solutions such as tapered shaft and keyway processing are available according to requirements, adapting to the shaft end specifications of different equipment.
• Metal Leaf Spring: As the core transmission element, it is made of stainless steel and undergoes special heat treatment. It has excellent elasticity and fatigue resistance, maintaining stable performance during long-term high-frequency transmission, with no wear and maintenance-free. Meanwhile, it realizes zero backlash power transmission, serving as the core guarantee for the precision of SFC Coupling.
• Spacer (Exclusive to Double-Element Type): Used to connect two metal leaf springs, it enhances the flexible compensation capacity of the coupling. It can be flexibly adjusted according to the equipment installation spacing, adapting to long-distance precision transmission scenarios without affecting overall rigidity and transmission accuracy, balancing flexibility and stability.
The SFC Coupling offers a rich range of models. Referring to the mainstream series of MIKI PULLEY, it is corely divided into two major types: SFC-SA (single-element) and SFC-DA (double-element), covering various specifications to meet the needs of different precision transmission scenarios. Customization is also supported to adapt to special working conditions. The following are the commonly used industrial standard specification parameters for selection reference:
IV. Core Application Scenarios of SFC Coupling: Focusing on High-End Precision Fields
With its core advantages of zero backlash, high rigidity, low inertia, and high response, the SFC Coupling mainly focuses on high-end precision transmission fields, adapting to various equipment with high requirements for positioning accuracy and operational stability. It is widely used in industrial automation, intelligent manufacturing, precision machinery and other fields. The core application scenarios are as follows:
Servo Motor and Encoder Transmission: As a core connector of servo systems, it connects servo motors with actuators (such as ball screws), realizing gap-free power transmission, ensuring the positioning accuracy and response speed of servo systems. It is suitable for equipment such as CNC machine tools, servo modules, and robot joints, serving as a key guarantee for the efficient operation of servo systems.
Precision Machine Tool Field: It is suitable for connecting the main shafts and feed shafts of machine tools such as CNC lathes, machining centers, and grinders. It balances high-speed operation and precision positioning, reduces transmission errors, improves machine tool processing accuracy, and absorbs slight vibrations during processing to protect machine tool spindles and cutting tools, extending equipment service life.
High-End Electronic and Semiconductor Equipment: Applied in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, 3C equipment, printing machines, etc., it adapts to high-speed and precision transmission needs. The zero backlash design can avoid product defects caused by transmission deviations, and the low inertia design reduces equipment energy consumption, adapting to the miniaturization and precision development of equipment.
