Axially Assembled Rings

Axial retaining rings are designed for axial installation into machined grooves.  These rings are either internal for installation in housings and bores, or external, for assembly on shafts.  Once installed, they provide a protrusion or "shoulder" for retaining parts.

Radially Assembled Rings

Radial retaining rings are radially installed into machined grooves on shafts.  They don't have lugs or lug holes and do not extend as far around the circumference of the grooves as their axial counterparts.  Consequently, they can be installed quickly using Rotor Clip applicators and dispensers.  Rotor Clip radial retaining rings are also available stacked (excluding the LC rings).

Rings Used for End-Play Take Up

Rotor Clip bowed retaining rings are designed to compensate for accumulated tolerances in assemblies.  Once snapped into the groove, bowed rings exert a force or "preload" on the retained parts made to the low side of the tolerances "snugging" everything up.  They also act like a spring and "give" when parts made to the high side of the tolerances extend too far into the groove.

Self-Locking Rings

Self-locking retaining rings can be installed on a shaft or in a housing/bore without using a groove.  They save machining time and overall costs since a groove is not needed for installation.  They also come in small sizes (some fitting shafts as small as .058" in diameter) and can be used effectively and economically on small applications with very low thrust loadings.  Most self-locking retaining rings can not be easily removed once installed.

Metric Retaining Rings

Axial, Radial and Self-Locking retaining rings avaialable in DIN metric sizes.

Installation Tools

Pliers, applicators, dispensers and automatic assembly tools specifcally designed for aiding in the installation of Rotor Clip retaining rings.