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. Also known as feather keys. Machine keys are often the same material and as hard or harder than 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 offer good strength.
316 stainless steel keys have excellent corrosion resistance, but aren't as strong as steel keys. They may be mildly magnetic.
Slightly larger than the size listed in the table, oversized keys fit tightly in a keyway. Press them 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 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.
Keys that meet ANSI B17.1 specifications conform to ANSI standards for dimensions and tolerances.
Metric keys conform to DIN 6885 standards.
| Normal size b | 2.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 14.00 | 16.00 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | |||
| h | 2.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 9.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 12.00 | 14.00 | |||
| d1 | min | 6.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 17.00 | 22.00 | 30.00 | 38.00 | 44.00 | 50.00 | 58.00 | 65.00 | 75.00 | ||
| max | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 17.00 | 22.00 | 30.00 | 38.00 | 44.00 | 50.00 | 58.00 | 65.00 | 75.00 | 85.00 | |||
| b | Shaft Groove,Tight | max | 1.99 | 2.99 | 3.99 | 4.99 | 5.99 | 7.99 | 9.99 | 11.98 | 13.98 | 15.98 | 17.98 | 19.98 | 21.98 | |
| min | 1.97 | 2.97 | 3.96 | 4.96 | 5.96 | 7.95 | 9.95 | 11.94 | 13.94 | 15.94 | 17.94 | 19.93 | 21.93 | |||
| Shaft Groove,loose | max | 2.00 | 3.00 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 14.00 | 16.00 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | ||
| min | 1.97 | 2.97 | 3.97 | 4.97 | 5.97 | 7.96 | 9.96 | 11.96 | 13.96 | 15.96 | 17.96 | 19.95 | 21.95 | |||
| t1 | Shaft Groove | min | 1.20 | 1.80 | 2.50 | 3.00 | 3.50 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.50 | 6.00 | 7.00 | 7.50 | 9.00 | |
| max | 1.30 | 1.90 | 2.60 | 3.10 | 3.60 | 4.20 | 5.20 | 5.20 | 5.70 | 6.20 | 7.20 | 7.70 | 9.20 | |||
| b | Hub Groove,Tight | max | 1.99 | 2.99 | 3.99 | 4.99 | 5.99 | 7.99 | 9.99 | 11.98 | 13.98 | 15.98 | 17.98 | 19.98 | 21.98 | |
| min | 1.97 | 2.97 | 3.96 | 4.96 | 5.96 | 7.95 | 9.95 | 11.94 | 13.94 | 15.94 | 17.94 | 19.93 | 21.93 | |||
| Hub Groove,loose | max | 2.01 | 3.01 | 4.02 | 5.02 | 6.02 | 8.02 | 10.02 | 12.02 | 14.02 | 16.02 | 18.02 | 20.03 | 22.03 | ||
| min | 1.99 | 2.99 | 3.99 | 4.99 | 5.99 | 7.98 | 9.98 | 11.98 | 13.98 | 15.98 | 17.98 | 19.97 | 21.97 | |||
| t2 | Hub Groove | min | 1.00 | 1.40 | 1.80 | 2.30 | 2.80 | 3.30 | 3.30 | 3.30 | 3.80 | 4.30 | 4.40 | 4.90 | 5.40 | |
| max | 1.10 | 1.50 | 1.90 | 2.40 | 2.90 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 4.00 | 4.50 | 4.60 | 5.10 | 5.60 | |||
| d2 | min | 2.50 | 3.50 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 9.00 | 11.00 | 11.00 | 12.00 | 14.00 | ||
| Normal size b | 25.00 | 28.00 | 32.00 | 36.00 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 50.00 | 56.00 | 63.00 | 70.00 | 80.00 | 90.00 | 100.00 | |||
| h | 14.00 | 16.00 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | 25.00 | 28.00 | 32.00 | 32.00 | 36.00 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 50.00 | |||
| d1 | min | 85.00 | 95.00 | 110.00 | 130.00 | 150.00 | 170.00 | 200.00 | 230.00 | 260.00 | 290.00 | 330.00 | 380.00 | 440.00 | ||
| max | 95.00 | 110.00 | 130.00 | 150.00 | 170.00 | 200.00 | 230.00 | 260.00 | 290.00 | 330.00 | 380.00 | 440.00 | 500.00 | |||
| b | Shaft Groove,Tight | max | 24.98 | 27.98 | 31.97 | 35.97 | 39.97 | 44.97 | 49.97 | 55.97 | 62.97 | 69.97 | 79.97 | 89.96 | 99.96 | |
| min | 24.93 | 27.93 | 31.91 | 35.91 | 39.91 | 44.91 | 49.91 | 55.89 | 62.89 | 69.89 | 79.89 | 89.88 | 99.88 | |||
| Shaft Groove,loose | max | 25.00 | 28.00 | 32.00 | 36.00 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 50.00 | 56.00 | 63.00 | 70.00 | 80.00 | 90.00 | 100.00 | ||
| min | 24.95 | 27.95 | 31.94 | 35.94 | 39.94 | 44.94 | 49.94 | 55.93 | 62.93 | 69.93 | 79.93 | 89.91 | 99.91 | |||
| t1 | Shaft Groove | min | 9.00 | 10.00 | 11.00 | 12.00 | 13.00 | 15.00 | 17.00 | 20.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | 25.00 | 28.00 | 31.00 | |
| max | 9.20 | 10.20 | 11.20 | 12.30 | 13.30 | 15.30 | 17.30 | 20.30 | 20.30 | 22.30 | 25.30 | 28.30 | 31.30 | |||
| b | Hub Groove,Tight | max | 24.98 | 27.98 | 31.97 | 35.97 | 39.97 | 44.97 | 49.97 | 55.97 | 62.97 | 69.97 | 79.97 | 89.96 | 99.96 | |
| min | 24.93 | 27.93 | 31.91 | 35.91 | 39.91 | 44.91 | 49.91 | 55.89 | 62.89 | 69.89 | 79.89 | 89.88 | 99.88 | |||
| Hub Groove,loose | max | 25.03 | 28.03 | 32.03 | 36.03 | 40.03 | 45.03 | 50.03 | 56.04 | 63.04 | 70.04 | 80.04 | 90.04 | 100.04 | ||
| min | 24.97 | 27.97 | 31.97 | 35.97 | 39.97 | 44.97 | 49.97 | 55.96 | 62.96 | 69.96 | 79.96 | 89.96 | 99.96 | |||
| t2 | Hub Groove | min | 5.40 | 6.40 | 7.40 | 8.40 | 9.40 | 10.40 | 11.40 | 12.40 | 12.40 | 14.40 | 15.40 | 17.40 | 19.50 | |
| max | 5.60 | 6.60 | 7.60 | 8.70 | 9.70 | 10.70 | 11.70 | 12.70 | 12.70 | 14.70 | 15.70 | 17.70 | 19.80 | |||
| d2 | min | 14.00 | 16.00 | 18.00 | 21.00 | 23.00 | 26.00 | 28.00 | 32.00 | 32.00 | 36.00 | 40.00 | 45.00 | 50.00 | ||