GearTopper June: Cardan shafts

GearTopper: Cardan shafts

In this monthly recurring column we would like to put a transmission or related product into the spotlight, our GearTopper. In this way, we like to share our product knowledge with our readers. This edition we focus on cardan shafts. 

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​A cardan shaft is a shaft with universal joints at the shaft ends. These joints are equipped with a joint cross with needle bearings, which give the shaft the possibility to transmit high torques under a relatively big angle. The universal joints are made of tempered steel and case-hardened steel which are connected by a calibrated precision steel tube which is welded between the joints. In many case the tube is supplied with a splined bushing which gives a length compensation between the two flanges. This length compensation often helps to install the shaft and when the shafts to be coupled can have some movement, like from a shaft mounted gearbox. 

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​The flanges at the end of the cardan shaft are available in various sizes and versions, depending on size and customer needs. After welding the shafts will be dynamically balanced according to the speed on which they will be used. Note that a cardan shaft is never 100% aligned between both shaft ends, always have a little angle in the crosses.
 
Aandrijf Technisch Buro supplies cardan shafts and companion flanges up to a peak torque of about 600.000Nm and is happy to offer the best matching cardan shaft for your application. The selection of a cardan shaft is done based on torque, power, speed, angle, requested lifetime and shaft end diameters.

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