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		Feather Key Joints - Course: Techniques of fitting and assembling component parts to produce simple units. Trainees' handbook of lessons (Institut für Berufliche Entwicklung, 19 p.)
			(introduction...)
			Introduction
			Hints on Labour Safety
			1. Purpose of Feather Key Joints
			2. Kinds of Feather Keys and Profile Shafts
			3. Kinds of Feather Key Joints
			4. Stress on the Feather Key Joints
			5. Tools, Devices and Auxiliary Means
			6. Technological Processes for Manufacturing Feather Key Joints and Profile Shaft Joints
			7. Detachment of Feather Key Joints

1. Purpose of Feather Key Joints

Feather key joints detachable joints positively connecting parts, which have to do rotar motions, by fastening devices - feather keys.

Figure 1 Feather key joint

1 key, 2 shaft, 3 hub

Feather key joints are made in order to

- connect parts of machines which have to carry out a true rotary movement;
- to additionally secure the position of machine parts connected by clamping and taper connections, so that they are able to carry out a true rotary movement;
- to connect machine parts with shafts in such a way that, in addition to a rotating movement, they are also able to do an axial reciprocating movement.

Special advantages of the feather key joints

- The true running of the parts is guaranteed;
- The stability of the joint is guaranteed even with the transmission of higher rotary power.

Disadvantage

- The joint does not stand frequently changing discontinuous stress.

If shafts and hubs are shaped in a special way, the connection of rotating parts is guaranteed by this special shape itself. Additional feather keys are then no more required. Such shafts are called profile shafts; the hub is shaped corresponding to the profile of the shaft.