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(877) 248-1631If you’re in the machining world, you’ve undoubtedly come across the term “spline.” A crucial part of many mechanical systems, splines come in different types and sizes, each serving a unique purpose. This can be confusing, especially when trying to get a precise quote for a spline broach tool. At CNC Broach Tools, we’ve noticed that inquiries for broach quotes can often be somewhat vague, mainly due to a misunderstanding of spline types and characteristics.
Let’s clear up some of the confusion.
What is a Spline?
A spline is a mechanical component designed to transmit torque between the shaft and the hub or other similar parts of a machine. It is characterized by evenly spaced grooves cut into its surface.
Different Types of Splines
- Involute Splines: These splines have curved grooves that provide greater strength and are used in higher torque applications. Involute splines follow different specifications, some of the most common being ANSI B92.1, ANSI B92.2M, DIN 5480, DIN 5482, & JIS B 1603. Within these standards, several key factors determine the characteristics and performance of the spline:
- Class: The class defines the amount of backlash present in the connection. A Class 5 fit, for example, implies a tighter (more precise) connection with less backlash than a Class 7 fit.
- Pressure Angle: This refers to the angle at a point on the tooth profile where the line of action intersects the pitch circle. Common pressure angles are 20, 30, 37.5, or 45 degrees, with 30 and 37.5 being more common in the DIN 5480 standard and 45 degrees more typical in ANSI B92.1.
- Module (Metric) / Diametric Pitch (Imperial): These two values are reciprocal to each other and represent the size of the teeth. In the metric system (DIN 5480), this value is the module, which is the ratio of the pitch diameter to the number of teeth. In the imperial system (ANSI B92.1), this is the diametric pitch, representing the number of teeth per inch of the pitch diameter. Knowing these characteristics of your spline is crucial for us to provide an accurate quote.
- Fits: There are several ways that splines can fit together, each with its own characteristics:
- Fillet Root Side Fit: Here, the sides of the teeth on the hub engage with the flanks of the shaft splines, allowing for high load capacity. However, manufacturing is more complex due to the need to control the fillet at the root of the splines.
- Flat Root Side Fit: This fit is similar to the fillet root side fit, but with a flat root on the hub spline. It’s simpler to manufacture but has a lower load capacity.
- Major Diameter Fit: In this type of fit, the major diameters of the shaft and hub spline engage. It provides high concentricity but may limit the load-carrying capacity due to smaller contact areas.
- Straight Sided Splines: These have straight, parallel grooves and are generally used in low-torque applications.
- Serrations: Similar to straight-sided splines, these have a notch at the end of each groove. They’re typically used in low-torque, low-cost applications.
What We Need from You
When requesting a quote for a spline broach tool, it’s crucial to supply specific details about the type of spline you need to cut. This could be an involute spline, a simple serration, or a straight tooth spline. Including the particular spline specification can help us quickly reference all the necessary dimensions, greatly streamlining the quoting process. However, if the spline doesn’t adhere to a listed specification, or if the standard isn’t readily available, we’ll need additional information about the features of your spline. Providing us with this comprehensive set of information ensures that we can give you the most accurate quote and the optimal broach tool for your specific machining needs:
- Spline Type: Involute spline, simple serration, or straight tooth spline.
- Spline Specification: Standard specification such as ANSI B92.1 or DIN 5480 if available.
- Module or Diametric Pitch: This relates to the size of the teeth.
- Number of Teeth: Total teeth count on the spline.
- Pressure Angle: This could be 30, 37.5, or 45 degrees.
- Type of Fit & Class: For example, Fillet Root Side Fit or Major Diameter Fit, along with the class defining the precision.
- Length of Cut – This is needed to determine which holder to provide
In addition to the requirements above, the items below can also help us verify the spline is not a modified standard:
- Major, Minor, and Pitch Diameters: Essential dimensions of the spline.
- Measurements Between Pins: This aids in detailed profiling of the spline.
By ensuring that you include these details in your request, you allow us to provide you with the most suitable broach tool, tailored to your needs. Feel free to reach out to our expert team if you have any questions or need assistance with your request.
Providing a Print of your desired product with these details is the most effective way for us to give you an accurate quote. However, we understand this may not always be feasible. In those cases, providing as many of the above details as possible will ensure a more accurate and faster quote.
What to do if you are unable to provide the spline information
If you have an unknown spline that you’d like to reproduce but lack the specific details, don’t worry – CNC Broach Tool can still assist you. We offer a reverse engineering service for $250. By shipping us your part, we can reverse engineer the spline using our state-of-the-art measuring equipment. After this, we’ll provide you with a DXF file of the spline and a quote for the tooling needed to broach it. This service allows us to recreate even the most intricate splines, ensuring that you get the exact tooling you need. Interested in learning more? Contact us today to discuss your project and discover how CNC Broach Tool can make your manufacturing process more efficient.
Remember, the more specific you are, the better we can assist you. We’re here to help make your CNC machining tasks easier and more efficient!
Stay tuned for more insights and tips from CNC Broach Tools, and as always, happy machining!
