BOX 232 • MINNEAPOLIS, KS • 67467

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MACHINE KEY FEATURES

Machine keys are removable machine elements installed between shaft key seats and hub key ways The ter ms Sha ft
to transmit torque in power transmission assemblies. They can be machined; finished in a variety of Key s and Mac hine
shapes, sizes, and materials; and tumbled by the thousands for automated assembly lines or just about Key s are use d
any application. Though simple in design, they are a necessity in the transfer of power. inte rch ang eab ly
To des crib e the
sam e thin g

Design Co nside ratio ns

FORM FIT FUNCTION

Machine Ke ys are An efficien t un de rsize ke ys fi t loosely, Machine ke ys may shear under

sol ution fo r appl icatio ns o the rs fi t snuggly, and o versize stress to pro tect people and
requiring the transmission of ke ys can be filed to fi t expe nsi ve equipmen t
to rque in an assembly See Page 8 for more de tails

EASE OF USE LOCATION CORNER DESIGNS

Tabbed and tapered Gib head De pending on the appl icatio n, Ke y Sharp, square co rners pro vide
ke ys secure pulle ys and gears ways are located at the end or the most surface co n tact wh il e
ti gh tly whil e allo win g for quick alon g the len gth o f the shaft radi used or chamfered corners
re mo val during disassembly are a l i t tle easier to i nstall and
location can impact ke y design fully seat in a ke y way

Keys for every appl icat io n

Top fitting gib head Parallel keys located in key Key ways located along Woodruff Keys are frequently
keys ease assembly ways at the end of a shaft the length of a shaft allow used with tapered shafts.
and disassembly. may protrude for full contact for full contact in assembly Although more difficult to
between key and shaft. with no way for the key to install, they can not fall out
work itself out. of an assembly.

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
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MACHINE KEY TYPES

Form B Form A Gib Head

Form B machine keys with both ends square More common in Europe than the U.S., Gib head keys are tapered machine keys
feature straight, 90º parallel sides and form A machine keys have rounded end that are hammered in place to secure
provide the most surface contact with both profiles so the key fully fills a milled key pulleys and gears tightly on the shaft.
the key seat and the hub of a sprocket, way. Some users suggest that the round The added feature of a head provides for
gear, pulley, or cog. design eases installation into the key way. easy removal.

Page 56 Page 56 Page 70

Woodruff Hi-Pro

Woodruff keys are used to avoid milling a A variation of the woodruff key is the high-
key way near stress concentration prone profile or hi-pro key. These keys have “feet”
shaft shoulders at the end of a shaft. With a that prevent the key from rocking and limit Broad Selection
woodruff key, the key way does not extend movement in a rounded key way.
to the end of the shaft so a stronger design
is realized. Convenient, Easy
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Manage Your
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Complete Order
History
Page 78 Page 84

Also Available... Oversize or Undersize?

OVERSIZE UNDERSIZE
The actual size of oversize The actual size of undersize
material will be at least material will be at least the
the specified size and may specified size and may be
be slightly larger than the slightly smaller than the
specified size within the specified size within the
acceptable tolerance range. acceptable tolerance range.

Hex and round Machine ke ys

are available as a special o rder

see pages 40 – 45 for

Hex and round Ke y stock

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
49
 BOX 232 • MINNEAPOLIS, KS • 67467
HUYETT.COM • 785 - 392 - 301 7 SALES@HUYETT.COM • FAX 785-392-2845

The ter ms Key

DESIGN & USE Way and key
seat are use d
inte rch ang eab ly
To des cri be the
Machine Key Forms & MILLING KEY WAYS sam e thin g

Form B

End mill enters End mill proceeds axially

surface area of do wn the shaft surface
Shaft creating a
radiused end Upon exit, the end mill forms
Form A another radiused end

The profile of machine keys affect installation, bearing stresses, Because key ways are milled into the side of shafts using a
and wear. While parts with square ends are more difficult to rotating cutter, the entry and exit points of the cutter into the
install, round-end keys yield a greater coefficient of friction shaft form a radius or slot. Form A keys match the pattern of the
with the key way, which reduces bearing stresses. key way which eases installation.

Types o f key ways

SEC ONDARY PRO CES S:

HEA T TRE ATIN G
OUR STAN DAR D MATERIA LS POS
SES S
A TYP ICAL HAR DNE SS OF HRB -80

PROFILE OR CLOSED
Milled Along length of the shaft, but does not
extend to end of the shaft
HR B-80

SLED RUNNER
NEE D SOM ETH ING HAR DER
Look like the runners of a sled with a round
taper on one end THA N HRB -80 ?
CO NTACT Sal es@ huy ett. com or
cal l 785- 392- 30 17

For best results, enlist

the help of a reliable
WOODRUFF OR HI-PRO design engineer When
Is cut along the length of the shaft with an designing new applications
arbor cutting tool

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
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DESIGN & USE

Cutting corners

Square key way with Radiused key way with Radiused key way with
square key stock square key stock radiused key stock

Ke y ways may have fille ted (rounded) corners to decrease stress concen tration

Ke y stock wi th square corners will no t fully seat in fille ted ke y ways

Hold on Loosely Interference Fit

Over-radiused machine keys with “rolled” corners fit A tight, interference fit, is produced when the machine
looser in a key way and can lead to “rattling.” key is slightly larger than the key way it is installed in.
See page 8 for more details.

Shear Analysis Fretting

Shear Plane

Force

A machine key may wear out or get distorted from high

pressure and/or constant load bearing.

Catastrophic Failure
Torque

Keys may fail if they are crushed due to excessive

compression, bearing forces, or shear off in
catastrophic failure.
Keys can also wear out or get distorted through fretting If an application fails a machine key may shear or be
from high pressure and constant load. crushed on load and will need to be replaced.

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
51
 BOX 232 • MINNEAPOLIS, KS • 67467
HUYETT.COM • 785 - 392 - 301 7 SALES@HUYETT.COM • FAX 785-392-2845

SELECTING THE RIGHT KEY

A number of considerations contribute to machine key design. Some designs are based on how the parts
are used, while others look at how the parts are manufactured or enhance efficiency in assembly. For best
results, consult with a design engineer when developing a new application.

Parallel keys Gib head keys

SQUARES AND RECTANGLES

Square and rectangle profiles are the most common forms for Gib head keys are designed for applications that require periodic
parallel keys. They are often referred to as straight keys. maintenance or removal during disassembly.

Parallel or straight keys are more common in the U.S. and cost Typically the height is less than width. Gib head keys fit in the key
less to produce than feathered keys. They are “side fitting” way with “top and side fitting” which bears load on all sides.
which means they fit edge to edge in the key way.

FEATHERED
Rise

Run
Tapers are expressed in terms of rise over
run. In
other words, the amount of taper is stated
per
linear units of measure. A 1/8" taper per
foot
means that for every 12" in linear distance
(run)
the thickness of the part (rise) decreases by
0.125".
Metric taper is 1:100.
Feathered keys are parallel keys with round ends. They are
more common in Europe. The round end design allows for the
key to fully seat in the key way.

Oversize or Undersize?
OVERSIZE UNDERSIZE
The actual size of oversize The actual size of undersize
material will be at least material will be at least the
the specified size and may specified size and may be in order to
be slightly larger than the slightly smaller than the remo ve a gib
specified size within the specified size within the head ke y wi th an
acceptable tolerance range. extractio n to ol, A
acceptable tolerance range.
gap must be left
be tween the head
and the assembly

Bo th the gib ke y
and the Hub ke y way
are tapered

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
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SELECTING THE RIGHT KEY

Woodruff keys HI-PRO keys

Woodruff keys, sometimes referred to as “half-moon” keys Hi-pro keys perform like woodruff keys, but have the added
because of their shape, are designed to install and pivot in the benefit of “feet” that aid in installation by eliminating the
key way and will not fall out once assembled. potential for the key to rock in the key way.

Allows for
increased
strength Near the
end of the shaft

W.N. WOODRUFF
Woodruff keys were invented by W.N. Woodruff of
Also Available...
Connecticut in 1888. The main purpose of the woodruff
key is to avoid milling a key way near the stress
concentrated end of a shaft.

Proper Installation
Hex and round Machine ke ys
are available as a special o rder

see pages 40 – 45 for

Hex and round Ke y sto ck

Custom Configurations

Woodruff Ke ys

Woodruff keys should be installed with the low side toward

the hub. During installation the key will rock in the key way
allowing for a tight fit.

If the key is installed with the high side to the hub, the key
will catch causing improper installation and risk damage to
the assembly.

Hi-pro Ke ys
Hi-pro keys eliminate any play or
movement during installation. Don 't see what you 're
loo king for ?
Con tac t Sal es@ huy ett. com
or cal l 785- 392- 3017

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
53
 BOX 232 • MINNEAPOLIS, KS • 67467
HUYETT.COM • 785 - 392 - 301 7 SALES@HUYETT.COM • FAX 785-392-2845

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Machine keys are used to transmit torque from a rotating shaft to a gear or sprocket. They can be
finished in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials for just about any application. Standard sizes are
ready to use with little or no cutting or filing.

Machine Key - Machine Key - Gib Head

Form B Form A

Common Machine Keys; Sunk Feather Key; Pratt & Gib Head Key; Cotton
Names Keys; Key Stock Whitney Key Picker Key

ANSI B17.1; ANSI B17.1; DIN 6884/6887;

DIN 6885 DIN 6885 Industry norm
Appl icable
Standards

Cold drawn steel; cut Cold drawn steel; cut Cold drawn steel; cut
to length; tumbled to to length; both ends to length; machined
remove burrs. radiused. tapered surface; tumble
Fabrication to deburr.

Imperial is measured Imperial is measured Imperial is measured

height × width × length. height × width × length. width × length. Metric
Metric is measured Metric is measured is measured width
width × height × length. width × height × length. × effective height ×
Ho w to
length. Commercial keys
Identify do not usually meet the
ANSI specification.

Original equipment, Original equipment, Original equipment,

including motors, gear including motors, gear including motors, gear
boxes, gear reducers, boxes, gear reducers, boxes, gear reducers,
and transmissions. and transmissions. and transmissions.
Farm equipment,
Common Uses especially cotton
pickers, harvesters, and
combines.

Square ends are more Radiused ends are more Used to progressively
common in U.S. common in Europe. install the key and take
up slack from one access
end. The head serves
Comments as a concussion point
for hammering without
damage to the shaft of
the key. Common taper
is 1/8" taper per foot.

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Special Order
Metric DIN 6885

Machine keys can be designed with special

dimensional features like set screws, tapers, and
other attributes. Mechanical features like tensile
strength, shear strength, and wear resistance can
be enhanced by material and secondary processes
(like heat treating) that give parts added benefits.
Woodruff Hi-pro

Common Half-moon Key; Round High Profile Keys

Names Key

ANSI B17.1; ANSI B17.1; Form C Form D

DIN 6888 Industry norm
Appl icable
Standards

Cold drawn profile; cut Cold drawn profile; cut

to width; grind; tumble. to width; grind; tumble. Form E Form F

Fabrication

Imperial is measured Width × length × lip

diameter × width. height. Hi-pro keys have Form G Form H
Metric is measured small “feet” to keep
width × height. them from rocking in
Ho w to
Woodruff keys may the key way.
Identify have round or flat
bottoms depending on
specifications.

Original equipment, Original equipment, Form J Form K

where an arbor cutter where an arbor cutter
is used to cut a key is used to cut a key
way that is half-moon way that is half-moon
shaped. shaped.
Common Uses

Alloy hardened keys Alloy hardened keys

usually have hash marks usually have hash marks
(small lines) embedded (small lines) embedded
into the surface of the into the surface of the FOR BEST RES ULTS , ENL IST
Comments key along the top. key along the top. THE HEL P OF A REL IABL E
DES IGN ENG INEE R WHE N
DES IGNING NEW APP LICATION S

Prices, materials, dimensions, tolerances, designs, and grades subject to change without notice. © 2016 G.L. Huyett
55