What are the characteristics of fixed distance sleeves
The fixed distance sleeve is a commonly used component in mechanical transmission and connection, mainly used to fix the axial position of components on the shaft (such as bearings, gears, pulleys, etc.), ensuring their stable operation within a predetermined distance. Its characteristics mainly include the following aspects:Sources：www.dmees.cn | PublishDate：2025.08.12
1. Simple structure and specialized function
The fixed distance sleeve is usually a cylindrical sleeve structure with high precision in inner and outer diameter dimensions and relatively simple processing technology.
The core function is to control the axial spacing of components on the shaft, prevent axial displacement of components due to vibration, impact, etc. during operation, and ensure the stability of the transmission system.
2. High precision dimensional control
The inner and outer diameters and length dimensions have strict tolerance requirements (such as IT6-IT8 precision) to ensure a tight fit with the shaft, bearings, or other parts, avoiding looseness caused by excessive clearance or assembly difficulties caused by excessive interference.
The parallelism and perpendicularity accuracy of the end face are high, ensuring a tight fit with adjacent parts and reducing stress concentration caused by poor contact.
3. Strong adaptability and diverse specifications
According to the requirements of shaft diameter and part spacing, different length, inner and outer diameter specifications can be designed to adapt to various shaft structures (such as stepped shafts, optical axes, etc.).
It can be used for both small precision machinery (such as machine tool spindles and instruments) and large equipment (such as transmission shafts for engineering machinery and metallurgical equipment).
4. Material characteristics adapted to working conditions
The commonly used materials are medium carbon steel (such as 45 steel), alloy steel (such as 40Cr), etc. After quenching or tempering treatment, they have certain strength and wear resistance, and can withstand axial forces and certain radial loads.
For special working conditions such as high temperature and corrosive environments, materials such as stainless steel and high-temperature alloys can be used to ensure their stability in harsh environments.
5. Easy installation, no need for complex accessories
During installation, it is directly fitted onto the shaft, relying on the coordination with the shaft and adjacent parts to achieve positioning, without the need for additional fixing devices (such as bolts, clamps, etc.), simplifying the assembly process.
Easy to disassemble, can be directly removed with tools, and does not affect the structural integrity of the shaft and other parts.
6. Assist in optimizing transmission efficiency
By controlling the spacing between parts, reducing friction interference between parts, lowering energy loss, and improving the efficiency of the transmission system.
For precision parts such as bearings, distance sleeves can ensure that their clearance is within a reasonable range and extend their service life.
7. Low cost and high cost-effectiveness
Compared to other axial positioning components such as shaft shoulders, retaining rings, locking nuts, etc., the manufacturing cost of distance sleeves is lower and they have strong universality, making them suitable for mass production and wide application.