McMaster-Carr logo
    Forward
    Enter e-mail addresses in the fields below
    Message
    Cancel
    Print
    How can we improve?
    Comments
    E-mail address (if you would like a response)
    30 Products

    Rounded Machine Keys

    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Keys. 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.
    1008-1045 Carbon Steel—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.
    Undersized Tolerance—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.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Lg.,
    mm
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Pkg.
    Qty.
    Pkg.
    1008-1045 Carbon Steel
     
    12 mm × 20 mm
    56Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A80600000
    63Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A8180000
    70Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A84900000
    80Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A91600000
    90Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A92900000
    100Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A94000000
    110Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885196717A95400000
     

    Machine Keys

    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Keys. 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.
    1008-1045 Carbon Steel—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.
    Undersized Tolerance—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.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Lg.,
    mm
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Pkg.
    Qty.
    Pkg.
    1008-1045 Carbon Steel
     
    12 mm × 20 mm
    56Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A85900000
    63Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8610000
    70Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8620000
    80Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8630000
    90Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8640000
    100Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8650000
    110Undersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Not RatedDIN 6885198870A8660000
     

    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.
    1008-1045 Carbon Steel
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Key Stock. Machine Key Stock.
    1008-1045 carbon steel key stock is an economical choice with good strength.
    Oversized Tolerance—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.
    Undersized Tolerance—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.
    DIN 6880—Key stock that meets DIN 6880 conforms to DIN standards for undersized keys.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Ht. × Wd.
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Each
    305 mm Long
    8 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.090 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A526000000
    12 mm × 20 mmOversized0.000 to 0.0760.000 to 0.076Rockwell B87—92288A44800000
    12 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A53100000
    20 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.052 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A53900000
     
    1,000 mm Long
    12 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A57800000
    20 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.052 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A58600000
     
    Zinc-Plated 1008-1045 Carbon Steel
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Key Stock. Machine Key Stock.
    Zinc-plated 1008-1045 carbon steel key stock is an economical choice with good strength and resists corrosion in wet environments.
    Oversized Tolerance—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.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Ht. × Wd.
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Each
    305 mm Long
    8 mm × 20 mmOversized0.000 to 0.0760.000 to 0.076Rockwell B8792288A247000000
    12 mm × 20 mmOversized0.000 to 0.0760.000 to 0.076Rockwell B8792288A34000000
    20 mm × 20 mmOversized0.000 to 0.0760.000 to 0.076Rockwell B8792288A43000000
     
    Zinc-Yellow-Chromate-Plated 1045 Carbon Steel
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Key Stock. Machine Key Stock.
    Zinc-yellow-chromate-plated 1045 carbon steel key stock is an economical choice with good strength and resists corrosion in wet environments.
    Undersized Tolerance—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.
    DIN 6880—Key stock that meets DIN 6880 conforms to DIN standards for undersized keys.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Ht. × Wd.
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Each
    305 mm Long
    12 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A731000000
    20 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.052 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B87DIN 688092288A73300000
     
    18-8 Stainless Steel
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Key Stock. Machine Key Stock.
    18-8 stainless steel key stock offers a balance of strength and corrosion resistance. It may be mildly magnetic. 18-8 stainless steel key stock is more corrosion resistant than steel key stock.
    Oversized Tolerance—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.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Ht. × Wd.
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Each
    305 mm Long
    20 mm × 20 mmOversized0.000 to 0.0760.000 to 0.076Rockwell B82DIN 17898810A2300000000
     
    316/316L Stainless Steel
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Machine Key Stock. Machine Key Stock.
    316/316L stainless steel key stock has the best corrosion resistance of our stainless steel key stock and may be mildly magnetic. 316/316L stainless steel key stock is more corrosion resistant than steel key stock.
    Undersized Tolerance—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.
    DIN 6880—Key stock that meets DIN 6880 conforms to DIN standards for undersized keys.
    Tolerance,
    mm
    Ht. × Wd.
    Tolerance
    Rating
    Ht.
    Wd.
    Min.
    Hardness
    Specs.
    Met
    Each
    305 mm Long
    12 mm × 20 mmUndersized-0.110 to 0.000-0.052 to 0.000Rockwell B86DIN 688090457A185000000
     

    Fixture Keys

    Image of ProductInUse. Front orientation. Contains Annotated. Fixture Keys. Fixture Keys.
    Image of Product. Front orientation. Contains Annotated. Fixture Keys. Fixture Keys, Rectangle.

    Rectangle

    Image of Product. Front orientation. Contains Annotated. Fixture Keys. Fixture Keys, Stepped Rectangle.

    Stepped Rectangle

    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 Machine Table
    T-Slot Wd., mm
    Lg.,
    mm
    Wd.,
    mm
    Ht.,
    mm
    Wd. Tolerance,
    mm
    For Mounting
    Screw Size
    Mounting Fasteners
    Included
    Each
    Rectangle
     
    Steel
    20222010-0.013 to 0M6
    		No8961A76000000
     
    Stepped Rectangle
     
    Steel
    28322012-0.013 to 0M6
    		No8961A7900000
    36322012-0.013 to 0M6
    		No8961A8100000
     
    back to top