In the majority of the applications Mach III encounters our product connects to a round, keyed shaft. This application, however, connects two square shafts. Used on military equipment that is exposed to the elements, all of the metal components are stainless steel. The torque limiter portion (top photo) fits a 1.0 Inch Square, the coupling portion (bottom photo) fits a 0.75 Inch Square. The torque limiter protects the driven shaft by slipping if the factory torque setting of 1,800 pound inches is exceeded.

If your design includes square or other atypical shafting, contact Mach III to explore a custom design solution. All Mach III products are made in the USA and lead times for custom designs average only one week longer than for similar sized catalog products.

US Toll free: 866-291-0849, International: +1 859-291-0849 or Email: engineering@machiii.com.

For other custom design examples, scroll through this blog or visit our custom design page.

An aerospace engineering & manufacturing company supplying equipment for the F-35 fighter jet production line had already built multiple skin panel positioning fixtures when it was discovered that a torque limiting device was needed.  They considered adding a torque limiter in line between the existing brake and their drive pulley but that solution would have lengthened the drive too much to fit the existing space.  Combing the internet for a solution, the chief engineer discovered Mach III. 

Mach III designed the unit pictured; a new drive pulley assembly with an integral zero backlash torque limiter.  This assembly provided a drop in field replacement with no change to the existing drive dimension.  Mach III designed, estimated, quoted, manufactured and shipped five units direct to the job site in just 17 days

Could your project use some “outside the box” thinking?  Contact our engineering department today!

Mach III was contacted by a facility which uses large manually operated control valves. The quarter-turn valves are driven through right angle worm reducers by hand operated chain wheels. Due to the unfortunate fact that human beings are not equipped with torque sensors in their muscles, costly downtime failures were occurring when excess force was applied to the worm reducer via the chain wheel. Working with the facility's engineer, Mach III designed a special, keyless, friction torque limiter to connect the chain wheel to the reducer shaft. 

In addition to designing and manufacturing the torque limiter, Mach III also provided the customer with a mounting diagram including suggested dimensions for machining their existing chain wheel to accept the new device. Although Mach III offers the service of machining existing mating components, in this case the customer's shop felt comfortable with the task. The torque limiter was successfully installed and adjusted to a setting where it would slip to protect the worm reducer when the shop gorilla swings on the chain.

Those accustomed to working with other clutch suppliers might assume that only an application promising considerable quantities would merit this level of attention. But this customer needed only three torque limiters, and spent just about one thousand dollars. So what is the motivation? A report from the customer that the new system "worked perfectly".

If you've got a nagging issue needing a clutch, brake or torque limiter solution and are concerned that no one will think it's worth their while, give Mach III a call. We know you will be pleasantly surprised.