Cardan Shaft Alignment

As shown in the opening images on this page, a cardan shaft is, in the simplest terms, a spacer shaft with a universal joint coupling on each end. (Its name comes from a 16th-century Italian mathematician, Girolamo Cardano.) This type of arrangement allows power to be transferred between two machines that are offset from each other.

Widely used in industry, cardan shafts have proven practical on applications where space is limited—as well as in situations where an element in the machine train (e.g. paper roll) may need to be actuated (dynamically positioned) to an alternate position when the machines are not running. The universal joint shaft allows for limited movement without uncoupling. To ensure sufficient lubrication circulation, which in turn prevents the universal joints from seizing, cardan shafts are normally installed with an angle from 4 to 6 degrees at the universal joints. Experience, though, has shown that the angle between the shafts of the driver and driven unit should be kept to a minimum, preferably less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Ideally, the angles between the driver and driven shafts and the cardan shaft, shown as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, would be equal. Geometrically, this would equate to zero angularity existing between the driver and driven unit: In other words, the shafts of the driver and driven machine would be parallel to each other.

If excessive angularity does in fact exist between these components, the result will be a rapid fluctuation of the driven shaft RPM during operation. This, in turn, generates damaging vibration, as well as an adverse load through the machine train, leading to premature wear of critical machine components. Precise alignment minimizes these rotational irregularities, so that uneven bearing loading during cardan shaft rotation is also minimized. Thus, the service life of the components is extended and the chance of unexpected machine failure is reduced.