Source for Shaft Couplers

[craigboez]

Does anyone have a good source for inexpensive shaft couplers? I'm looking to couple a 1/4" od encoder to the end of a 1/4" od shaft for the steering portion of a swerve module. Both shafts will be smooth, no flat spots, so I'm looking for a clamp style (not set screw style) shaft coupling. To allow for some manufacturing tolerances I don't want it to be completely rigid, so I was looking at using a semi-flexible slit type coupling like this.

At $13.50 the SDP/SI plastic version is the cheapest version I could find. Aluminum versions all seem to be $25-30. Any comments on plastic vs aluminum?

Automation direct makes some (here) for $7 but they're setup for 6mm shafts. Does anyone have experience with these - do they work for 1/4" shafts, do they require modifications, etc?

Since we'll be buying several of these I'm trying to find the most economical option that will still be reliable. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.