Shaft Keyway Slot
Why Power Transmission Shafts Have Both Keys and Keyways
A keyway is a square-corner channel that runs the length of the shaft and of the hub, intended to hold a short rectangular length of steel, called a key, that fixes the rotation of the hub to that of the shaft. Standardized diameter sizes for shafts, keyways, and keys make standardization of parts possible. Anyone tried cutting a slot for a key on a motor shaft with a dremel or angle grinder, or other 'poor man's tool'? I have a few motors laying about without keyways on the shafts, I'm not sure how to put them to use. We can also make special pre-keyed shafts (English or metric) with single, multiple, or interrupted keyways in diameters as small as 1/16″ and as large as 4 1/2″, and provide complete in-house secondary machining to manufacture custom shafting to print. Nominal shaft diameter bottom of shaft to bottom of keyway width reference depth.
Short answer: Keys and keyways prevent the shaft from rotating on the bore and can assist in torque transmission between the two connected shafts.
Sometimes understanding the small details, help us understand the big picture. On this blog we will dive into some basic concepts of power transmission.
Have you tried to start an engine, or put a drive train into gear, and nothing happened?
You may have even heard the starter motor engage and start, but then there was no forward motion when the transmission finally became engaged. Most of the time, when this occurs, there are a few things that you can check, such as the transmission fluid, transmission shift cable, or the transmission shaft key. But, let me explain this a bit further.
Breaking down the components
Power transmission
As the term easily implies, power transmission is the transfer of energy from a place of generation to a place where it is applied to perform useful work. In Figure 1 below, you can see how a steam turbine transfers the power generated by steam into a generator, which in turn creates electricity. Note the shaft connecting the steam turbine with the generator. Power generation is one of the many industries covered by Lovejoy products.
(Figure 1)
Shaft
A shaft is an element used to transmit both the power and torque. Shafts are made in a variety of different shapes and forms, but most tend to have circular cross sections that are either solid or tubular shaped. Shafts transmit power directly from a driving device or power source into a load (figure 1). Shafts can carry gears, pulleys, and sprockets in order to transmit rotary motion and power via mating gears, belts, and chains. Alternatively, a shaft may simply connect to another shaft via a coupling mechanism. Couplings are connected to a shaft by means of a key, keyway, or keyseat.
Key, Keyway, and Keyseat
A key is a piece of metal used to connect a rotating machine element to the shaft. A key prevents a relative rotation between the two parts, and may enable torque transmission to occur. For a key to function properly, both the shaft and rotating elements (gear, pulley and coupling) must have a keyway and a keyseat. Usually the term keyseat is referred as a groove or pocket on a shaft, and a keyway is a slot in a hub in which the key fits into. The complete system is called a keyed joint (Figure 2).
(Figure 2)
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.
Shaft Keyway Size
Mechanics
In order to lock a hub or bushing and shaft together, and also to prevent a shaft from rotating in the bore (Figure 2), a key is commonly inserted into a keyway that is machined in both the bore and the shaft. The key is responsible for preventing any rotation between the shaft and the bore, and also carries a portion of the torque load to the keys. Torque transmission by keys is the most common and widely used power transmitting method. Unfortunately, misaligned keys and keyways can result in mechanical failures. Therefore, in order to ensure an appropriate fit, the width and height dimensions of a standard key and keyway must adhere to recommended tolerances. Industry standards for key sizes in various bores exist for both the English and Metric systems.
Shaft Keyway Slot Bearings
In addition, when there is a distance that exists between the driving and driven components, drive shafts frequently connect with one another using one or more universal joints, jaw couplings, or in some cases, a splinted joint or prismatic joint.
Shaft Keyway Size Chart
So, to conclude, the two most important functions of keys and keyways on a power transmission shaft are to:
Shaft Keyway Torque
- Prevent the shaft from rotating in the bore
- Enable power transmission through the torque