Industry Updates

Climax Keyless Locking Devices withstand the constant pounding associated with timber processing applications making them an ideal replacement for expensive and time consuming traditional interference fit connections.

Sawmill Systems and Planer/Feed Tables commonly incorporate traditional keyed connections when attaching feed rollers in sawmill equipment. Using a keyed connection adds weight and cost not only to the shaft but to every component on the shaft. Over time, keyways cause fretting corrosion, allowing for backlash, and do not transmit bending moments or axial loads.

A Climax keyless locking assembly can be used in place of a keyed connection removing these disadvantages especially when subjected to extreme environments where constant load reverses are common. Keyless locking devices use multiple screws with opposing tapers creating a 360° contact mechanical interference fit. Where pin retention is used in sawmill equipment, using a C133 or C405 locking assembly eliminates the need for Continue reading “KLD Mechanical Interference Fit an Optimal Solution for Sawmill Systems and Planar/Feed Tables”

Climax Keyless Locking Devices withstand the constant pounding associated with wood processing applications making them an ideal replacement for expensive and time consuming traditional interference fit connections.

Interference fit rotor/shaft connections common in wood chippers require expensive machining, fixturing, and the use of heavy hydraulic presses. As these traditional fits require close tolerances there is a great deal of labor involved to facilitate assembly.

Climax heavy duty locking assemblies can achieve the same fit with a much simpler and less expensive machining. Keyless locking assemblies are installed and removed with simple hand tools making them ideal for applications that require field serviceability. The same heavy duty locking assemblies can be used to mount drive sheaves on wood chippers eliminating wallowing, fretting corrosion, and fatigue failure, commonly associated with shaft keyways. The harsh demands of constant pounding in wood processing applications Continue reading “Keyless Locking Devices Provide Superior Connection Solution for Wood Chippers”

Climax Keyless Locking Devices provide a superior alternative for component connectivity in timber applications where keyed connections commonly result in excessive downtime and loss of production.

Due to the harsh nature of the lumber and wood industry, sheared and rolled keys and broken shafts are common on equipment such as debarkers. Shaft/hub connections in this industry are subjected to a constant pounding which eventually leads to shaft fatigue failures of keyed connections resulting in downtime and loss of production.

In debarker applications, Climax C405 series heavy-duty locking assemblies create a 360° contact mechanical interference fit eliminating backlash associated with keyed connections. By eliminating the shaft keyway and associated notch factor, keyless locking devices provide for a shaft that is 30% stronger in both torsion and bending capacity. For sprockets, Continue reading “KLDs Offer Superior Torsion and Bending Capability for Timber Industry Debarkers”

Climax Keyless Locking Devices provide timing solutions for lumber handling systems providing a cost-effective maintenance-friendly alternative to traditional keyed connections.

Lumber handling systems have gears in the transfer station used for lifting raw material. In order for these transfer stations to run smoothly they demand strict sync tolerances. Traditional keyed connections used in lumber handling systems can become compromised causing a loss of synchronization resulting in stopped production. This need to periodically realign the gears and/or replace expensive keyed shafting is often expensive, difficult, and time consuming.

Climax C133 series locking assemblies negate the need for keyways in drive sprocket applications often allowing for the use of A-Plates. When used with kicker arms our keyless locking devices do not require  gang broaching or the need to locate keyways on shafting, resulting in reduced machining costs. Under the extreme operating environments of lumber handling systems, KLDs eliminate the need for keyed connections and the associated problems with backlash and fretting corrosion which over time can cause weakened shafts and/or shaft failures. Continue reading “Keyless Locking Device Provides Solution to Expensive Machining Costs in Lumber Handling Systems”

Climax large bore shaft couplings provide a higher strength alternative over antiquated traditional approaches in timbering applications while transmitting higher loads necessary for line shafts.

From initial harvesting to final product, machinery used in forestry (sawmill) applications is constantly subjected to some of the harshest environments and strenuous loads for which an engineer can design.

The true workhorse of the coupling family, rigid couplings can be used in many line shaft applications in the timber industry.

Climax’s state of the art facility, located in Mentor, Ohio, manufactures couplings with up to a 5” bore, with the capability to go larger depending on the application. Climax also offers Continue reading “Large Bore Couplings Provide Solution for Line Shaft Timber Applications”