11/9/2018 ISO Involute Spline

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Keyways Index

Straight Cylindrical Involute Splines

I mp o rt a n t n o t e :

T h e in f o rma t io n o n t h is p a g e is n o t d e t a ile d a n d h a s b e e n o b t a in e d b y re f e re n c e t o t h e re le v a n t B S a n d

M a c h in e ry s h a n d b o o k . D e t a il d e s ig n s h o u ld b e c o mp le t e d u s in g t h e re le v a n t s t a n d a rd s o r q u a lit y re f e re n c e

s o u rc e s .

I n t ro d u c t io n

The notes and tables below relate to straight cylindrical involute splines in accordance with BS ISO 4156:2005-1 Straight cylindrical
involute splines. Metric module, side fit.
It is emphasised that the splines identified are side fit with the centering based on the sides of the splines

Involute splines are the predominant form bacause they are stronger than straight sided splines and are easier to cut and the fit. The
external spline can be formed either by hobbing or by a gear shaper. Internal splines are formed by broaching or by a gear shaper. To
control tolerances , the minimum efffective space width and the minimum major diameter of the internal spline are held to basic dimensions
. The external spline is varied to obtain the desired fit.

The very simplest method of initially selecting of involute spline based on a shaft dia is to arrive at an initial Pitch circle dia (D) and a
module (m). eg. a spline for a 50mm OD spline with say a module of 2mm would have a PCD (D) of 50 - 2 = 48mm. The number of teeth
= D/ m and as an whole number of teeth is required a value of D = 48mm is easily selected with number of teeth z =24 teeth. The
detailed manufacturing requirements are obtained using the various notes and tables in the relevant standard / detailed technical
publications. The notes and tables below provide outline information.

The fit of the spline ( interference , close, loose etc ) is primariy specified based on the ISO system of limits and fits as detailed in BS EN
20286-1/ 2. Refer to webpage ISO limits..

Shafts connections based on involute splines are suitable for transfering of high, cyclical and shock torsional moments. Involute splines
are used for fixed and for sliding connections of shafts with hubs..

The splined profile is shaped as involute toothing in the cross section, with nominal pressure angles of the profile 30°, 37.5° or 45°.

It is centered to the outer diameter or sides of the teeth. Centering to the diameter is more accurate. Centering to sides is more
economical and is used much more frequently in practice.(see figure below )

The groove bottom can be flat or rounded.

BS ISO 4156 is based on the following modules.

For pressure angles of 30° and 37,5° the modules increments are

0,5; 0,75; 1; 1,25; 1,5; 1,75; 2; 2,5; 3; 4; 5; 6; 8; 10

For pressure angle of 45° the module increments are

0,25; 0,5; 0,75; 1; 1,25; 1,5; 1,75; 2; 2,5

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11/9/2018 ISO Involute Spline

Male Involute Spline

Advantages of the involute splines compared with keyways:

Lower pressures than couplings with keys, higher loading capacity of the coupling
Lower wear of sliding couplings
Suitable also for cyclical torsional moments
Easy assembly and disassembly of the coupling

Advantages of involute compared to straight splines

Higher number of teeth resulting in lower pressures and higher loading capacity of the coupling
More uniform distribution of forces along the perimeter
Option of fine adjustment of the hub on the shaft)
Stronger shaft the shaft, lower notch coefficient
Economical lot production using a hobbing method
High accuracy of production similarly as with accurate gears

Disadvantages of the Involute Splines

More complicated to engineer

Higher production costs than couplings with keys
Higher notch coefficient than couplings with keys
Difficult execution of alignment and perpendicularity of the coupling
non-parallelism of sides of the teeth causes additional radial forces in the coupling; these forces then try to open the hub

S t a n d a rd s

BS ISO 4156:2005_1: Straight cylindrical involute splines. Metric module, side fit. Generalities
BS ISO 4156:2005_2: Straight cylindrical involute splines. Metric module, side fit. Dimensions
BS ISO 4156:2005_3: Straight cylindrical involute splines. Metric module, side fit. Inspection

D e s ig n a t io n o f in v o lu t e s p lin e s

An example set of designations for a mating spline pair with 32 teeth, 2,5 module, with a 30°pressure angle, a fillet root and a class 5 fit
is...

Mating: INT/ EXT 32z × 2,5m × 30R × 5H/ 5f ISO 4156

Internal spline: INT 32z × 2,5m × 30R × 5H ISO 4156
External spline: EXT 32z × 2,5m × 30R × 5f ISO 4156

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Pressure Angle α degree ( o)

Pressure Angle
At Pitch Diameter
αD degree ( o)

Number of teeth z -
Module m D/ z
Pitch (Circular) p m.π
Basic Tooth thickness
S p/2
Circular
Basic space w idth
E p/2
Circular
Effective space w idth EV
p/2
Circular (minimum) min
Pitch diameter D m.z
Base diameter Db m· z ·cos αD
Base pitch pb m· π· cos αD
Fundamental deviation, external es v Tooth mod'n factor -Results from fit (h,f,e,d) see table below
Minimum major diameter, internal
30°, flat root Dei m· (z + 1,5)
30°, fillet root m· (z + 1,8)
37,5°, fillet root min m.· (z + 1,4)
45°, fillet root m.· (z + 1,2)
Dei
Maximum major diameter, internal D ei min + (T + λ ) / tan α D
max

Minimum form diameter, internal

30°, flat root &fillet DFi m· (z +1)+2.c F
37,5°, fillet root min m· (z +0,9)+2.c F
45°, fillet root m· (z +0,8)+2.c F)
Di i
Minimum minor diameter, internal DFe max + 2· c F
min

Maximum minor diameter, internal:

m =< 0,75 Di i Dii min + IT 10
0,75 < m < 2 max Dii min + IT 11
m> 2 Dii min + IT 12

Maximum actual Space w idth

EV min + (T + λ )
class 4
class 5 Emax EV min + (T + λ )
class 6 EV min + (T + λ )
class 7 EV min + (T + λ ))

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11/9/2018 ISO Involute Spline
Minimum actual Space Width Emin Ev.min + λ

EV
Maximum effective Space Width Ev.min + TV
max

Maximum major dia external.

30°, flat root & fillet Dee m· (z +1)+ es v / (tan αD )
37,5°, fillet root max m· (z + 0,9)+ es v / (tan αD )
45°, fillet root m· (z + 0,8)+ es v / (tan αD )

Minimum major diameter, external:

m =< 0,75 Dee Dee max - IT 10
0,75 < m < 2 min Dee max - IT 11
m= > 2 Dee max - IT 12

DFe
Maximum form diameter
max

Maximum minor diameter, external

m· (z - 1,5)+ es v / (tan αD)
30°, flat root Die
30°, fillet root m· (z -1,8)+ es v / (tan αD)
37,5°, fillet root max m.· (z - 1,4) + es v / (tan αD)
45°, fillet root m.· (z -1,2 ) + es v / (tan αD)
Die
Minimum minor, external D ie max - (T + λ ) / tan α D
min
SV
Maximum effective tooth thickness S + es V
max

Minimum actual tooth thickness

SV max - (T + λ )
class 4
class 5 Smin SV max - (T + λ )
class 6 SV max - (T + λ )
class 7 SV max - (T + λ )
S
Maximum actual tooth thicknes Sv.max - λ
max
SV
Minimum effective tooth thickness Sv.max - TV
min
Total tolerance,
T + λ See table below
Space w idth or tooth thickness
CV
Maximum effective clearance Ev max - S v min
max
CV
Minimum effective clearance Ev min - S v max
min
Form tooth height hs See sketch and table for basic rack profile below

Note: The Form circle is the circle used to define the depth of involute profile control.
In the case of an external spline it is located near and above the minor diameter, and on an internal spline near and below the major
diameter

B a s ic R a c k S h a p e

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11/9/2018 ISO Involute Spline

Pressure Angle
Parameter 30o
37,5o 45o
Flat root Fillet root
Major Space height 0,75.m 0,9.m 0,7.m 0,6. m
Major Tooth height 0,5.m 0,5.m 0,45.m 0,4. m
Form tooth height (hs 0,6.m 0,6.m 0,55.m 0,5. m
Minor tooth height 0,75.m 0,9.m 0,7.m 0,6. m
Root radius ( ρFi ) 0,2.m 0,4.m 0,3.m 0,25. m
Root radius ( ρFe ) 0,2.m 0,4.m 0,3.m 0,25. m
Form radius (c F) 0,1.m 0,1.m 0,1.m 0,1. m

T a b le s h o w in g t o o t h t h ic k n e s s mo d if ic a t io n (e s v ) o f e x t e rn a l s p lin e s re la t iv e t o b a s ic t o o t h t h ic k n e s s

Important Note: These values are all reductions and so they are negative (-ve) values.

Selected fit class

Pitch Dia. D d e f h
(mm)
Thickness reduction (esv ) (mm)
=<3 0,020 0,14 0,006 0
3 to 6(inc) 0,030 0,020 0,010 0
6 to 10(inc) 0,04 0,025 0,013 0
10 to 18(inc) 0,05 0,032 0,016 0
18 to 30(inc) 0,065 0,040 0,020 0
30 to 50(inc) 0,080 0,050 0,025 0
50 to 80(inc) 0,10 0,060 0,030 0
80 to 120(inc) 0,12 0,072 0,036 0

T a b le s h o w in g t o t a l T o le ra n c e (T + λ) f o r S p a c e w id t h a n d T o o t h t h ic k n e s s

The Total Tolerance (T + λ ) is the sum of the Machining Tolerance (T) and the Effective variation (λ )

Spline Tolerance
Formula for (T + λ ) formula for i1 & i2
class(T + λ )

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i 1 = 0,001[0,453.Sqrt (D) +0,001D ]

4 10i1 + 40i2

5 16i1 + 64i2
i 2 = 0,001[0,453.Sqrt (S +0,001 S ]
6 25i1 + 100i2 Note: i 1 applies for D < 500mm
7 40i1 + 160i2

The effective variation is the combined effect of the total index variation (Fp ), the positive profile variation (ff ) and the tooth alignment
variation ( F β ) . These combined effect i for convenience calculated using the following equation

T a b le s h o w in g e q u a t io n s f o r (F p ), ( f f ) a n d ( F β)

Spline
Tolerance Fp ff Fβ
class
4 0,001.[ 2,5 Sqrt(M.z.β /2 ) + 6,3] 0,001 [1,6.m (1+0,012z) + 10] 0,01 [0,8.sqrt(g) + 4]
5 0,001.[ 3,55 Sqrt(M.z.β /2 ) + 9] 0,001 [2,5.m (1+0,012z) + 16] 0,01 [1,0.sqrt(g) + 5]
0,01 [1,25.sqrt(g) +
6 0,001.[ 5 Sqrt(M.z.β /2 ) + 12,5] 0,001 [4.m (1+0,012z) + 25]
6,3]
6 0,001.[ 7,1 Sqrt(M.z.β /2 ) + 18] 0,001 [6,3.m (1+0,012z) + 40] 0,01 [2,0.sqrt(g) + 10]

T a b le s h o w in g v a lu e s f o r e s v / (t a n αD ) f o r d if f e re n t P re s s u re a n g le s a n d Fit e s

α = 30 α = 37,5 α = 45 α = 30 α = 37,5 α = 45 α = 30 α = 37,5 α = 45 α = All

Pitch Dia. fit class =
fit class = d fit class = e fit class = f
D (mm) h
esv / (tan αD ) - (mm)
=< 3 0,035 0,026 0,020 0,024 0,018 0,014 0,010 0,008 0,006 0
3 to 6 inc. 0,035 0,039 0,030 0,035 0,026 0,020 0,017 0,013 0,010 0
6 to 10
0,052 0,052 0,040 0,043 0,033 0,025 0,023 0,017 0,013 0
inc.
10 to 18
0,069 0,065 0,050 0,055 0,042 0,032 0,028 0,021 0,016 0
inc.
18 to 30
0,087 0,085 0,065 0,069 0,052 0,040 0,035 0,026 0,020 0
inc.
30 to 50
0,113 0,104 0,080 0,087 0,065 0,050 0,043 0,033 0,025 0
inc.
50 to 80
0,139 0,130 0,100 0,104 0,078 0,060 0,052 0,039 0,030 0
inc.
80 to 120
0,173 0,156 0,120 0,125 0,094 0,072 0,062 0,047 0,036 0
inc.
180 to 250
0,208 0189 0,145 0,147 0,111 0,085 0,074 0,056 0,043 0
inc.
250 to 315
0,251 0,222 0,170 0,173 0,130 0,100 0,087 0,065 0,050 0
inc.
315 to 400
0,294 0,248 0,190 0,191 0,143 0,110 0,097 0,073 0,056 0
inc.

Site s Providing Re le vant Inform ation

1. Mitcalc.com...Excel based programme allowing detailed design of shaft connection (19 Eur)
2. Tasman industires...Supplier of keys

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11/9/2018 ISO Involute Spline
3. Bonut Engineering...supplier of keys
4. Technifast Ltd...Supplier of fasteners and keys.
Shaft Spline

Gear Spline

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Last Updated 19/ 01/ 2013

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