Flexible drive shafts
Flexible drive shafts
(OP)
I'm thinking about using a flexible drive shaft in a design, but I'm worried about backlash. I'm going to need to know the orientation of the end effector to a good degree of precision. It seems to me like such a shaft would have some pretty big backlash problems in such an application. I've never worked with them though so I don't really know. Am I wrong? Is there anything else I should be taking into consideration when working with flexible drive shafts?
-Sam Boyce
Asst. Mechanical Engineer
www.AppleAid.com





RE: Flexible drive shafts
http://www.elliottmfg.com/
RE: Flexible drive shafts
I have never used flexible drive shafts. However, I remember reading that the torsional stiffness is very good if the shaft is straight or follows a simple arc (constant radius).
If the shaft has to form an S-shape, the stiffness suffers.
I can get the reference for this if you need it.
Tom
RE: Flexible drive shafts
Accuracy might suffer.
Do you only need to know where it is, or do you also need to control its location accurately? Encoder located at the effector end of the shaft would accomplish the former, encoder and brake the later.
RE: Flexible drive shafts
h
Benta.
RE: Flexible drive shafts