Red Seal Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Red Seal Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Exam with interactive flashcards and multiple choice questions, including hints and explanations. Ace your test!

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What type of couplings are used to connect shafts that are misaligned?

Rigid couplings
Flexible couplings
Universal couplings
Fixed couplings

The correct answer is: Flexible couplings

Flexible couplings are specifically designed to connect shafts that are not perfectly aligned. They accommodate some degree of misalignment both angularly and axially, which helps to reduce stress on connected machinery, minimize wear, and improve overall performance. This ability to absorb vibrations and slight misalignments makes flexible couplings an ideal choice for applications where precise alignment is challenging due to operational conditions or design constraints. Rigid couplings, on the other hand, do not allow for any misalignment and are best suited for perfectly aligned shafts. Universal couplings permit changes in the angular position between shafts but do not address parallel misalignment effectively. Fixed couplings maintain a stable connection without flexibility, making them unsuitable for applications where misalignment is present. Therefore, flexible couplings are the correct choice as they ensure reliable performance while compensating for shaft alignment issues.