What Are Shaft Collars & How Are They Used?
Shaft collars is a small component used primarily in the power transmission industry. Shaft collars are also referred to as set collars. There are many 'types' of shaft collars, however the two most popular types are "solid" and "split". Shaft collars are used for holding a component in place such as a sprocket, bearing, wheel or pulleys. Each collar type comes in a wide range of bore types that include metric, hex, threaded, square and D bore.
Types Of Shaft Collars

Solid Shaft Collars
Solid shaft collars are a "solid" construction and are generally fastened with one setscrew. The set screw has a knurled end that bites into the shaft, which is where the collar gets its holding power. The solid shaft collars are the most commonly used due to the overall design and lower costs. Most solid set collars are manufactured from a mild carbon steel with zinc plating for corrosion resistance. You'll also find that some suppliers offer these in stainless steel, plastic, aluminum and other exotic material for any special applications.
Pros:
- Cost Effective
- Simple Design
Cons:
- Damages shafts from knurled setscrew
- Difficult to remove based on location

Double Split Shaft Collars
Double split shaft collars are split in the center and fastened with two allen head cap screws on each side. The split collars has much greater holding power over the solid constructed shaft collars. These collars allows for easier installation and replacement without the need of disassembling other components on the shaft.
Pros:
- Wont damage shaft
- Increased holding power
- Disassembly of shaft components not needed
Cons:
- Can be expensive

Single Split Shaft Collars
Single split are similar to the solid collars except the single split has a higher holding power. This is achieved by torqueing down the allen head cap screws, which allows the collar to pinch the shaft.
Pros:
- Wont damage shaft
- Increased holding power
Cons:
- Can be expensive
- Difficult to remove based on location