Tangent keys are used in heavy-duty equipment. These keys are actually a pair. These pair of keys are placed right angles to each other and tangent to the surface of the shaft, each key will withstand the torsion in one direction only.

Shaft keys (and machine keys) can be made from a variety of materials. Generally, shaft keys are built from carbon steel or stainless steel but can be made from brass, copper, aluminum, monel, and even nylon, all with material grades. AISI 316 stainless is also prepared for marine applications. An installed wing key cannot run axially. This lets workers subsequently adjust the position of the mounted components along the shaft. One of the earliest forms of keyseating was done by chiseling. The keyway is roughed out using a chisel and then filed to size; the key is tried frequently to avoid over filing. This technique is long, tedious, and rarely used anymore. [11] Keyed joints [ edit ] Kibbe, R. R. (1995). Machine tool practices. (5th ed. ed., p.572). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Shaft key is a piece of metal used to connect a rotating machine element to the shaft. A shaft key prevents a relative rotation between the two parts, and may enable torque transmission to occur. For a shaft key to function properly, both the shaft and rotating elements ( gear, pulley, and coupling) must have a keyway and a keyseat.Connecting a shaft and a part is most commonly done by driving a small piece of metal, which is known as the key between the shaft and the hole that has been created in part mounted over it. The key settles in between the shaft and is partly into the part mounted over it. Axial grooves, otherwise known as key ways are cut in the shaft and then in part mounted on it. Then, the key is fitted between the shaft and the attached portion. Containing teeth or ridges that allow them to mate with other components, splined shafts are primarily used to transfer torque throughout mechanical drive systems while allowing for linear motion, such as those found in vehicles. Normally, they are composed of different metals depending on the localized stresses they are expected to undergo. Their teeth or ridges equally distribute circumferential force to a mated component, facilitating a uniform transfer of torque between the mated pair. This also helps to prolong the lifecycle of the parts.

A saddle key is a key for securing a member to a machine shaft that fits into a keyway in the secured member and is concave to grip the shaft by friction compared to a flat key, or sunk key. Broaching is primarily used to cut square cornered internal keyways. The specific broach, bushing and guide are used for each given keyway cross-section, which makes this process more expensive than most of the alternatives. However, it can produce the most accurate keyway out of all the processes. There are three main steps in broaching a keyway: First, the workpiece is set on the arbor press and the bushing is placed in the opening of the workpiece. Next, the broach is inserted and pushed through, cutting the keyway. Finally, shims are placed between the bushing and the broach to achieve the correct depth necessary for the key. [6] Keyseater [ edit ] A keyseater and a sample of various shapes that can be cut Modern keyseating machine A Hirth joint is similar to a spline joint but with the teeth on the end of the shaft instead of on the surface. ball bearings, roller bearings, thrust bearings, ceramic and ceramic hybrid bearings, stainless steel bearings, miniature bearings, linear bearings, shafting, corrosion resistant bearings - see the full listing in the The feather keys are undone to the exact length. There is no need for cutting, measuring, filing, or fitting.

Splined Shafts

Shaft Keys are made of varied types of materials and also come in different shapes and sizes. The most common key shapes are rectangular or tapered and are typically made of steel. There are two different types of connections between a shaft and a hub. This article will discuss the differences between the keyed shaft and keyless connections and their advantages/disadvantages. Install them in the shaft to transmit gear from the shaft to the shaft and other components. Machine keys are often the same material and are harder or tougher than the shafts or other components with which they are used. To use a key as part of a sacrifice, choose a soft key that will turn off when exposed to excessive force, so as not to damage expensive equipment. 2. Square Sunk key Round: These are used mostly for low power drives. They are circular and fit into holes drilled partly in the shaft and partly in the hub. Round keys are usually considered to be most appropriate for low power drives. These are not as popular as the rounded edge is much more prone to shearing than a square edge.

Registered Australian Company: Small Parts & Bearings Pty Ltd (ABN 79 121 865 414) - Trading as Bearing Shop Online Keyed Shaft, what is a keyed motor shaft. In mechanical engineering, a key is a machine element used to connect a rotating machine element to a shaft. A machine runs by the power supplied to it by a prime mover such as motor, engine, etc. The power is then transmitted from the prime mover to the machine through a coupler which couples the shafts of the prime mover and the machine.

Whether you require a small- or large-width key bar, we have everything you might need under one roof. Our high-quality key steels are available in width and depth ranges from 3mm to 22mm, so you can browse through the different options at your leisure to find just the key steel you are looking for.

You can easily find the appropriate connection method for your specific application based on the given information.Parallel keys are commonly used in mechanical and automotive engineering because of their inefficiency, availability, and ease of installation. Compared to sunk keys, saddle keys are not sunk into the shaft and hub instead they are only sunk into the hub. They either sit on a flat or the circumference of the shaft. Power transmission is achieved through friction between the shaft and the key. The saddle keys are of the following two types: The shaft key material must be chosen based on the operating environment. A designer must very carefully consider the loads that will be applied to the material and what kind of environment will be in the service. Carbon steel is used more broadly than any other material. Carbon steel provides very good strength through heat treatment. Feather keys may not fall out of the shaft and may damage nearby machinery. (Loose key in the working machinery is a major cause of damage and injury.)