Learn About Straight and Other Parallel Keys

Learn About Straight and Other Parallel Keys

28 Sep 2022
Fasteners knowledge
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Important Reasons for Straight and other Parallel Keys

Unless you spend a lot of time around rotating machine parts, you may never have heard about the reasons for and features of straight parallel keys, one round parallel keys, or any of the other varieties of these unique machine parts, also known as machine keys. 

Some machine part manufacturers are devoted to carrying every parallel key in existence, so important are the safety measures they provide to people operating heavy machinery with rotating shafts. 

Safety Reasons for Parallel Keys

Many machine operations make use of a powered rotating shaft. They can run saws, power gears and sprockets and transfer power to electric motors and induction drives. 

Depending on the machinery the shaft is connected to, it might be high-powered, which can present a genuine safety problem when one of the machine parts breaks.

Designed to Act as the Point of Failure

Any piece of machinery that moves at high speed has the potential to fail at any given time. The steel and other metals these machine parts are made from may have an invisible flaw. A small piece of metal from elsewhere in the shop can fly into the rotating shaft, and any number of different accidents can happen. 

When accidents happen to a rotating shaft, they generally are preceded by the machinery becoming jammed. A shaft prevented from rotating because of a jam is an accident waiting to happen. The amount of power being fed to the shaft represents the scale of the accident about to occur. The jam causes the shaft to build up force until one of the machine parts snaps. 

Engineers learned long ago how to provide safeguards to control the uncontrollable. They realized the smartest thing to do was to design one part of the machine to break before any of the others could snap and cause unforeseen damage to people and property. 

They may not know where each and every part of the machine chain comes from, or how strong it is, but by placing one part in the chain they knew was weaker than any part, they could rely on that part to act as the point of failure and allow the shaft to continue turning without inflicting further damage.

This is the role of the parallel key. Because there are so many types of machinery shafts being used for different applications, a wide number of specialized parallel keys have also been developed. 

Each type of parallel or machine key needs to conform to the specific form, fit, function, ease of use, and location of the different brands of rotating shafts they might be used in. There are standard types in the machine industry under names and designations such as Form B, Form A, Gib Head, Woodruff, and Hi-Pro. Parallel keys are often referred to as straight keys within the industry.

Every manufacturer or shop operating under a tight production schedule keeps a number of parallel keys on hand in case of an accident. When a jam happens, the machine key breaks, and the power is quickly cut to the shaft. Then the jam is cleared, the machine key is replaced, the shaft is powered back up and the machinery is quickly brought back online. 

The parallel keys are a safeguard that save lives, prevent property damage, and ensure that tight production schedules can be met. 

Nejireo.com is Your Machine Key Source in Thailand

Nejireo.com supplies machine keys to any shop or manufacturing location in Thailand. We have a wide variety of high-quality machine keys of all types to fit all brands of rotating shafts in use today. 

We also feature a complete line of fasteners, including nuts, bolts, washers, plastic fasteners and steel socket, machine, and assembled screws. All of our fasteners are in compliance with the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). 

Countrywide Delivery

Nejireo.com makes it easy to stick to production schedules. Simply order from our website, and we'll ship your parts directly to your doorstep wherever in Thailand you’re located, within two to five days, guaranteed!

We make it easy to keep all the parts you need in stock. This helps you speed up your operations to meet your goals and grow your business. Partner with Nejireo.com to streamline operations and enjoy greater success.

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We have over 100,000 JIS fasteners in stock, 3-5 days nationwide fast delivery, and start from 1 piece.