There are two basic types:

Rigid and Flexible

Rigid Couplings:
*Rigid couplings produce the greatest reactions on equipment. Mechanical Element type such as
gear, chain, and grid couplings produce moderate to high moments and forces on equipment that are
a function of torque and
misalignment. Elastomeric element couplings produce moderate to low moments and forces that are
slightly dependent on torque. Metallic Element couplings produce relatively low moments and forces w
hich are relatively
independent of torque.
*One-piece rigid couplings wrap around the shaft providing high torsional holding power without the
shaft damage and fretting inherent when set screw style couplings are used. Two-piece styles have
the additional benefits of allowing for disassembly and maintenance without removal of other
components. Two-piece couplings also feature opposing hardware for dynamic balancing.
The most commonly used flexible couplings today are those that produce the greatest flexibility
(misalignment and axial
capacity) w hile producing the low est external loads on equipment.
b. Flexible Couplings:
There are three basic types of flexible couplings:
1. Mechanical Element
2. Elastomeric Element
3. Metallic Element
The mechanical element type generally obtain their flexibility from loose-fitting parts or rolling or
sliding of mating parts or from both.
They require lubrication unless one moving part is made of a material that supplies its own lubrication
need (e.g., a nylon gear coupling).
The elastomeric element types obtain their flexibility from stretching or compressing a resilient
material (rubber, plastic, etc.) . The metallic element types obtain their flexibility from the flexing of thin
metallic disc or diaphragms.
*Besides these basic function flexible couplings "sometimes" are required to do the
follow ing:
Dampen vibration and reduce peak or shock loads.
Protect equipment from overload
Measure output torque of driven equipment
Electrically Insulate the driver from the driven equipment
Position a rotor of a motor or generator
Be used to tune a system out of a torsional critical.
Rigid: Coupled in transmission (pump sets). Rough use. Continuous motion. For relatively low Speed.
Flexible: Coupled in transmission with feed back devices (encoder). Precision application (Ball screw

& Nut). Intermittent, reciprocal, and accurate positiong applications.

Can withstand high revolutions. Vibration suppressed.
flexible couplings are mainly using rubber or teflon product moulding into the couplings and usually
used for high rpm. This is also to save guard the parts of the equipment as if there are any restriction
in the rotation on high speed the flexi couploing will give way in order to save the equipment. Wherelse
rigid will not but it depends where and what speed equipment you are using.
Rigid is non-moving, i.e., ductile iron, or PVC,
Flexible is..well what is says, flexible, like rubber or polyethylene