Rounded Machine Keys
When installed, these keys fill oval keyways completely, reducing stress on the key and shaft. Using them in a closed keyway keeps them from sliding along the shaft axis. The rounded ends make it easy to slide gears, hubs, and other components into place. These are also known as feather keys. Machine keys are often the same material as the shaft and other components with which they are used. To use a key as a sacrificial part, choose a softer key that will shear off when parts are exposed to excessive force, preventing damage to expensive equipment.
Steel keys are strong and easy to machine. Since steel is the most common material, these keys work in many applications. Steel keys rust when exposed to moisture, so they should only be used in dry environments. Slightly smaller than the size listed in the table, undersized keys are the choice when you need a slightly looser fit or when you have an inconsistent keyway. Use them when parts need to be taken apart frequently, such as for maintenance or prototyping.
Undersized metric keys meet DIN 6885 dimensional standards.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Tolerance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lg. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Specifications Met | Pkg. Qty. | Pkg. | |
1008-1045 Carbon Steel | |||||||
10mm × 16mm | |||||||
| 40mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 45mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 50mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 56mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 70mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 80mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 100mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 110mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 00000 |
Machine Keys
Straight keys, with a square or rectangular cross section, are the most common type of key. Install them in keyways to transmit torque from shafts to gears and other components. Machine keys are often the same material as the shaft and other components with which they are used. To use a key as a sacrificial part, choose a softer key that will shear off when parts are exposed to excessive force, preventing damage to expensive equipment.
Steel keys are strong and easy to machine. Since steel is the most common material, these keys work in many applications. Steel keys rust when exposed to moisture, so they should only be used in dry environments. Slightly smaller than the size listed in the table, undersized keys are the choice when you need a slightly looser fit or when you have an inconsistent keyway. Use them when parts need to be taken apart frequently, such as for maintenance or prototyping.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Tolerance | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lg. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Minimum Hardness | Specifications Met | Pkg. Qty. | Pkg. | |
1008-1045 Carbon Steel | ||||||||
10mm × 16mm | ||||||||
| 45mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 5 | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 50mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 5 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 63mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 5 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 70mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 80mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 90mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 100mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
| 110mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Not Rated | DIN 6885 | 1 | 000000000 | 0000 |
Tapered Gib Keys
These keys have a tapered body that wedges in to the keyway for a more secure fit than standard machine keys. The gib head makes these keys easy to remove when parts need to be taken apart frequently, such as for maintenance or prototyping. Keys are tapered along their length. Use them to connect gears and other components with tapered keyways to shafts. Keys are made of steel.
The height of metric keys decreases by 1 mm for every 100 mm of length. They meet DIN 6887, an international standard for machine keys.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Tolerance | Head | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lg. | Ht. | Wd. | Ht. | Lg. | End Ht. | Rate of Taper | Specifications Met | Each | |
1018-1045 Carbon Steel | |||||||||
10mm × 16mm | |||||||||
| 60mm | 0.000mm to 0.200mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | 16mm | 16mm | 9.500mm | 1 mm per 100 mm | DIN 6887 | 000000000 | 000000 |
Machine Key Stock
Cut this square or rectangular key stock to length to create a straight machine key. Straight keys are the most common type of key. Machine keys are often the same material as the shaft and other components with which they are used. To use a key as a sacrificial part, choose a softer key that will shear off when parts are exposed to excessive force, preventing damage to expensive equipment.
Steel key stock is an economical choice with good strength. Zinc-plated steel key stock resists corrosion in wet environments. Stainless steel key stock is more corrosion resistant than steel key stock. 18-8 stainless steel key stock offers a balance of strength and corrosion resistance. It may be mildly magnetic. 316/316L stainless steel key stock has the best corrosion resistance of our stainless steel key stock and may be mildly magnetic. Slightly larger than the size listed in the table, oversized stock fits tightly in a keyway. Press it into place for use in high-torque applications or to replace a key in a worn keyway. Slightly smaller than the size listed in the table, undersized stock is the choice when you need a slightly looser fit or when you have an inconsistent keyway. Use it when parts need to be taken apart frequently, such as for maintenance or prototyping.
Key stock that meets DIN 6880 conforms to DIN standards for undersized keys.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
Tolerance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ht. × Wd. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Minimum Hardness | Specifications Met | Each | |
305mm Lg. | |||||||
| 10mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B87 | __ | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 10mm × 16mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Rockwell B87 | DIN 6880 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 16mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B87 | __ | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 16mm × 16mm | Undersized | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Rockwell B87 | DIN 6880 | 000000000 | 00000 |
1,000mm Lg. | |||||||
| 10mm × 16mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Rockwell B87 | DIN 6880 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 16mm × 16mm | Undersized | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Rockwell B87 | DIN 6880 | 000000000 | 00000 |
Tolerance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ht. × Wd. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Minimum Hardness | Each | |
305mm Lg. | ||||||
| 7mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B87 | 000000000 | 000000 |
| 10mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B87 | 000000000 | 00000 |
| 16mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B87 | 000000000 | 00000 |
Tolerance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ht. × Wd. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Minimum Hardness | Specifications Met | Each | |
305mm Lg. | |||||||
| 16mm × 16mm | Oversized | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | 0.000mm to 0.076mm | Rockwell B82 | DIN 178 | 000000000 | 000000 |
Tolerance | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ht. × Wd. | Tolerance Rating | Ht. | Wd. | Minimum Hardness | Specifications Met | Each | |
1,000mm Lg. | |||||||
| 10mm × 16mm | Undersized | -0.090mm to 0.000mm | -0.043mm to 0.000mm | Rockwell B85 | DIN 6880 | 000000000 | 0000000 |
Fixture Keys
Sized to fit with precision in machine table T-slots, use these keys to locate fixtures and vises on your machine table. They mount to the underside of your fixture or vise with a socket head cap screw.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
| For Machine Table T-Slot Wd., mm | Lg., mm | Wd., mm | Ht., mm | Wd. Tolerance, mm | For Mounting Screw Size  | Mounting Fasteners Included | Material | Each | |
Rectangular | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 22 | 16 | 10 | -0.011 to 0 | M6 | No | Steel | 0000000 | 000000 |