Andrew/Whittet-Higgins: tools One pitfall is not allowing the needed spacing in the assembly housing. If the components are not locked together aor properly, the machinery can fail prematurely. A second pitfall is assuming that a particular torque measurement for one component is correct for the entire assembly.Jim/Stafford: * Using a set-screw collar on a hardened shaft. The screw does not "set," and holding power is greatly diminished.* Using a set-screw collar on thin-wall tubing, which can permanently distort the tubing.* Specifying too thin a width on a clamp-type collar, leaving it too weak to resist distortion when the clamp-screw is tightened.* Specifying too thin a clamp-slot on threaded shaft collars where the collar must flex more in order to adequately clamp onto the threaded shaft.

Andrew/Whittet-Higgins: tools One pitfall is not allowing the needed spacing in the assembly housing. If the components are not locked together aor properly, the machinery can fail prematurely. A second pitfall is assuming that a particular torque measurement for one component is correct for the entire assembly.Jim/Stafford: * Using a set-screw collar on a hardened shaft. The screw does not "set," and holding power is greatly diminished.* Using a set-screw collar on thin-wall tubing, which can permanently distort the tubing.* Specifying too thin a width on a clamp-type collar, leaving it too weak to resist distortion when the clamp-screw is tightened.* Specifying too thin a clamp-slot on threaded shaft collars where the collar must flex more in order to adequately clamp onto the threaded shaft.

* Using the face of a clamp-type collar as a bearing surface in a rotary application. The saw slot can quickly abrade the surface rotating against it.Doug/Zero-Max: Improper tightening of multiple screws can cause bushing slippage. Axial movement of the bushing on the shaft when tightening can cause some alignment tools loss. Some connections feature a single tightening screw flint can be torqued if necessary for proper clamping force.Best practicesWhat are considered "best practices" when designing with locking devices?Carl/Ringfeder: Aside from the obvious design parameters, engineers should ask the following questions:* What are the application requirements of the device?* Is the locking device only used to simplify installation or is adjustment, removal, or maintenance necessary?