What Is Woodruff Key?

Woodruff key is also name cam wedge or moon key or short name key.

A woodruff key is a half-moon-shaped machine key that prevents gears, hubs, or other components from moving independently of a rotating shaft or spindle. They also act as a fail‑safe that protects expensive parts by shearing under excessive loads. The crescent profile of the key allows it to sit deeper in the shaft reducing the likelihood of the key rolling laterally out of the groove.

The Woodruff key is a semi-circular disc and fits into a circular recess in the shaft which is machined by a woodruff keyway cutter. These woodruff keys are mostly used in machine tools and automobile shafts from ¼” to 2½” (6 mm to 60 mm) in diameter.

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 circular segment can be cut directly by plunge cutting with a circular Woodruff cutter without any reliefs. The main advantage of the Woodruff key is the elimination of milling near shaft shoulders, where stress concentrations and concentricity would be affected.

The more exact fit of the key and keyway also reduces play, and stress concentrations in, and improves the reliability of the key.

A woodruff key is a half-moon-shaped machine key that prevents gears, hubs, or other components from moving independently of a rotating shaft or spindle. They also act as a fail‑safe that protects expensive parts by shearing under excessive loads. The crescent profile of the key allows it to sit deeper in the shaft reducing the likelihood of the key rolling laterally out of the groove.

The Woodruff key is a semi-circular disc and fits into a circular recess in the shaft which is machined by a woodruff keyway cutter. These woodruff keys are mostly used in machine tools and automobile shafts from ¼” to 2½” (6 mm to 60 mm) in diameter.

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 circular segment can be cut directly by plunge cutting with a circular Woodruff cutter without any reliefs. The main advantage of the Woodruff key is the elimination of milling near shaft shoulders, where stress concentrations and concentricity would be affected.

The more exact fit of the key and keyway also reduces play, and stress concentrations in, and improves the reliability of the key.

A woodruff key is a half-moon-shaped machine key that prevents gears, hubs, or other components from moving independently of a rotating shaft or spindle. They also act as a fail‑safe that protects expensive parts by shearing under excessive loads. The crescent profile of the key allows it to sit deeper in the shaft reducing the likelihood of the key rolling laterally out of the groove.

The Woodruff key is a semi-circular disc and fits into a circular recess in the shaft which is machined by a woodruff keyway cutter. These woodruff keys are mostly used in machine tools and automobile shafts from ¼” to 2½” (6 mm to 60 mm) in diameter.

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 circular segment can be cut directly by plunge cutting with a circular Woodruff cutter without any reliefs. The main advantage of the Woodruff key is the elimination of milling near shaft shoulders, where stress concentrations and concentricity would be affected.

The more exact fit of the key and keyway also reduces play, and stress concentrations in, and improves the reliability of the key.

• It is an easily adjustable key.
• It is capable of accommodating any taper in the hub keyway,
• It’s a more exact fit of the key and the keyway also reduces play, and stress concentrations in, and improves the reliability of the key.
• It is eliminates milling near shaft shoulders, where stress concentrations and concentricity would be affected.
• It is particularly important for high-speed operation.
• This tapping is useful on shaft ends. Its extra depth in the shaft prevents any tendency to overturn it in its keyway.