Woodruff Keys

The Woodruff Keys is so called because of its manufacturing method. It consists of a semicircular key seat on the shaft surface which holds the key. The key is in the shape of a section of a circle. This type of key tends to have a lesser shear strength than compared to that of a rectangular or square key.
 
Woodruff keys are semicircular shaped, such that, when installed, leave a protruding tab. The keyway in the shaft is a semi-circular pocket, the mating part, a longitudinal slot. They are used to improve the concentricity of the shaft and the mating part, which is critical for high speed operation. The main advantage of the Woodruff key is that it eliminates milling a keyway near shaft shoulders, which already have stress concentrations.
 
Woodruff Keys are generally used for Automobiles, gearboxes, starters, alternators, fuel injection pumps, oil pumps, water pumps and brake compressors, Two wheelers, Electric motors, alternators and switch gears, Machine tools and all types of pumps Textile machineries, Pharmaceutical Machinery, Heavy Duty Machinery, Earth moving Machinery, Automotive Cran etc.