Shafts & axles
Stepped shafts, drive shafts and axle journals with fits, threads and keyways, precision turned on the DMG MORI NLX 2000 with driven tools.
CNC shafts and axles in steel, stainless or aluminium: concentricity below 0.01 mm, H7/g6 bearing seats, lengths up to 500 mm. Complete machining with threads, keyways and undercuts in one setup.
Complex profiles from one piece
Stepped shafts with several shoulders, fits and threads are produced in a single setup. Driven tools allow keyways, cross holes and flats directly on the lathe.
On shafts with several bearing seats (H7/g6) the single setup is decisive: no re-clamping means no offset, and every seat references the same datum.
What we produce
Stepped shafts
Several diameter shoulders, undercuts, chamfers. Typical for bearing arrangements and gearbox drives.
Drive shafts
With keyway (DIN 6885), splined or serrated profile for torque transmission.
Gearbox shafts
Precision ground bearing seats, shaft seal seats and preparation for gear cutting.
Axle journals
Short, stiff axles with high concentricity for bearings and roller guides.
Threaded spindles
Trapezoidal and metric threads, CNC turned with synchronised spindle for a perfect lead.
Special shafts
Eccentric shafts, crankshaft elements and one-off designs to your drawing.
Concentricity below 0.01 mm
On shafts with bearing fits, concentricity is the decisive quality figure. We measure every shaft in vee blocks with a dial gauge and hold values below 0.01 mm.
Shafts turned between centres reach even better figures. For the most demanding applications (spindles, fan shafts) we grind the bearing seats after turning.
Proven shaft materials
| Material | Material no. | Typical application | Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempered steel C45 | 1.0503 | Standard machine building | Hardenable, good strength |
| 42CrMo4 (QT) | 1.7225 | Heavily loaded gearbox shafts | Tempered 900 to 1100 MPa |
| Free cutting steel | 1.0718 | Series bolts and axles | Ideal machinability |
| Stainless 1.4305 | 1.4305 | Food, pharma | Free cutting stainless |
| Aluminium 7075 | 3.4365 | Lightweight shafts | High strength, anodisable |
Frequently asked questions
A stepped shaft has several diameter shoulders for mounting bearings, gears, seals and spacer rings. The shoulders are separated by undercuts (DIN 509) and chamfers.
Standard: below 0.02 mm. With careful clamping and a finishing pass: below 0.01 mm. For spindle applications we reach below 0.005 mm by grinding afterwards.
Yes. Our DMG MORI NLX 2000 has driven tools and a Y axis. Keyways to DIN 6885, cross holes and flats are produced directly in the turning setup.
42CrMo4 (1.7225) in the quenched and tempered condition is the standard for heavily loaded gearbox and drive shafts. Tensile strength 900 to 1100 MPa, readily hardenable and machinable.
On the NLX 2000 we turn shafts up to L=500 mm. Longer shafts are held between centres or supported with a steady rest. The main spindle handles up to Ø250 mm.
The price depends on diameter, length, tolerances and quantity. At higher quantities the unit price drops considerably. Complex shafts with threads and keyways cost accordingly more.
Enquire about a shaft or axle
Send us your drawing. We check feasibility, fits and concentricity requirements and get your quote back within 24 hours.
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