Quote:
Originally Posted by fox46
Can I ask a question--
Why is everyone using hexagonal shafts? What's wrong with a simple 1/8" keyway?
They're cheaper, easy to DIY, fit standard bearings, hubs etc.
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In a perfect world* hex makes things much easier to assemble and disassemble, decreases total parts count and in some applications, is stronger/more resilient than a similar application.
Having used keyed components in the past, one of my biggest fears with keys is always losing the keyway during rushed assembly or disassembly of the system. It got to the point where the team I was on began loctiting keys into shafts with the hope that they wouldn't be lost in a pinch.
Beyond the lost key issue, there's also the fact that having a key/keyway in a part creates a major stress riser. I've seen a handful of 7075 1/2" keyed sprockets fail in the same system, all of which (from what I can remember) failed/began failing at the keyway. I'm not saying that all keys/keyways are bad, they're just not my thing.
*A perfect world being one where all hexes are the same size and hex bearings rain from the sky forever.