The classification of mechanical shafts can be divided according to different standards, mainly including the following types:
Classification by load-bearing conditions:
Rotating shaft: supports transmission parts and transmits power, and bears torque and bending moment at the same time, such as the shafts in various reducers.
Spindle: used to support rotating parts but not transmit power, only bear bending moment. Spindle is divided into fixed spindle (the shaft does not rotate during operation) and rotating spindle (the shaft rotates during operation), such as the shaft of railway vehicles and the shaft supporting pulleys.
Transmission shaft: mainly used to transmit power, bear torque but not bending moment, such as the long optical shaft in the mobile mechanism of the crane and the drive shaft of the car.
Classification by structural shape:
Optical shaft: simple structure, mainly used for transmission shaft.
Step shaft: widely used, with multiple shaft sections with varying diameters.
Solid shaft and Hollow shaft: classified according to the different internal structures of the shaft.
Straight shaft, Crankshaft and Flexible shaft: Classified according to the shape of the axis.
Classification by application area:
Drive shaft: Used to transfer power between one source to another machine that absorbs the power, such as overhead shafts, spools, countershafts, etc.
Machine shaft: Located inside the machine, such as the crankshaft in a car engine.
Axle shaft: Supports rotating elements, such as the axle in a car.
Spindle: The rotating part of a machine that houses a tool or workspace, such as the spindle in a lathe.
