Spline Shafts
Spline shafts contain a series of ridges on a driveshaft that even out the rotation speed of the companion piece. The spline shaft's number of teeth and preferred pitch diameter determine the pitch of a spline gear.
Spline shafts can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, cast iron, steel, stainless steel, and brass. Some spline shafts now incorporate plastic along with the traditional metal composition of the gear.
The grooves in spline shafts are created by broaching machines. Broaches, or metal tools with a row of successively larger teeth, are used to cut various materials like wood, metal, and plastic. They can be used to cut holes or to alter the surface of a product.
In the manufacture of spline shafts, broaches are used on the material's surface to cut the furrows along the length of the shaft. As the spline rotates, these grooves interlock with the matching grooves in the mating piece; this connection enables a spline gear to transfer torque.