Design Parameters for Spline Connections

Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld

Introduction following sections present a firm guideline for each step of the
Splines are machine elements that connect a shaft with a rotor. design, tolerancing and cutting tool definition.
Next to transmitting torque, the spline might also be utilized The Different Spline Functions and the Required Fits
to center the rotor to the shaft. It is interesting that the spline’s If a splined shaft that is, for example, the output of a trans-
tooth profiles are involutes, although the involute profile does mission drive with a rotor that is mounted on its own bearings,
not contribute to the torque transmission, nor is it linked to the then the function of the spline is not the centering of the rotor
centering function. The reason for the involute profile is the fact but merely torque transmission. In this case, a centering func-
that most external splines are manufactured by hobbing with a tion would just cause the transfer of misalignment and runout
standard straight-sided, symmetric hob tooth profile that is fast between shaft and rotor, which leads to vibration and bearing
and delivers good accuracy results. The internal spline has to be wear. The described connection should have backlash between
manufactured with shaping or broaching, using an involute cut- the flanks and clearance between the top of the internal and
ting tooth profile. The nomenclature and parameters of a typical external teeth and their adjacent roots, and use a profile fit with
spline connection are presented (Fig. 1). The spline connection backlash (Fig. 3).
in Figure 1 is neither centering on the flanks nor on its major or If a splined shaft is connected with the internal spline, for
minor diameters. example — at the output of a transmission — and if the shaft
The exception to the involute profiles is the parallel straight is long in relation to its diameter, then a flank-centered fit as
profile spline that requires a planning operation for the external shown (Fig. 4) is preferred. In order for correct flank center-
member and a single tooth shaping or broaching of the internal ing, the backlash between the internal spline teeth and the shaft
member. Splines can be organized into 2 main categories and spline teeth must be zero. To achieve such a transitional fit, the
4 sub-categories that are defined by national and international tolerances according to ISO 7H (shaft spline) and 7n (internal
standards; an overview is given (Fig. 2). spline) are recommended.
Studying the literature teaches that many large OEM’s pick the In a case where a rotor like a sprocket is radially centered by
design proposals, the tolerances and function features for one the spline connection, then major diameter transition fit (or
particular spline design from several standards. Here it will be interference fit) according to ISO (outside shaft diameter toler-
proposed to use metric units for all calculations, applying the ance H7 and major internal diameter tolerance n7 (or H7/p7
addendum/dedendum recommendation by DIN and following for a press fit) can be used (Fig. 5). The profiles can be made
the ANSI guideline for side fit and major diameter fit. In order with backlash or as transition or interference fit (see tolerance
to eliminate the confusion that the design by picking dimen- recommendations in connection with Figs. 3 and 4). The deci-
sions and tolerances from different standards might cause, the sion regarding the flank fit depends on the operation schedule

Figure 1 Design parameters for splines.

September/October 2019 | GEAR TECHNOLOGY 79

 technical

Figure 2 Overview of different spline categories [1 through 7].

Figure 3 Not centering connection.

Figure 4 Flank centered connection.

80 GEAR TECHNOLOGY | September/October 2019

[www.geartechnology.com]
 Figure 5 Major diameter centered connection with gentle flank fit.

(one-directional or two-directional torque transmission).

The parallel straight-sided spline has straight-sided teeth
on the spline shaft and straight-sided slots on the internal
spine. To calculate addendum and dedendum, the formulas
either from the ANSI or the ISO standard can be used. In a
metric calculation like that shown before, the ISO tolerance
recommendations are appropriate for diameters and tooth
thickness versus slot width. An example for a straight-sided
spline is shown (Fig. 6).
The effective pressure angle can be calculated from the
triangle in Figure 6, using the reference diameter as hypot-
enuse and the tooth thickness as the opposite side. The
straight-sided spline according to AGMA has checks at
the root fillets (Fig. 6). There is no particular preference in
the standards regarding diameter fit or flank fit. Also, for
the parallel-sided spline it is common to either use a major
diameter fit with clearance on the flanks or a major diam-
eter fit with a gentle fit or press fit on the flanks. Flank fit
without major diameter fit is uncommon because a radial
misalignment due to a press fit is more likely than is the
Figure 6 Parallel straight sided spline.
case of splines with non-parallel flanks.
m = Depth/1.05 = 1.905
Defining Spline Dimensions
The example spline (Fig. 7) transmits the torque of a sprocket to With the known module it is now possible to calculate adden-
the splined shaft (or vice versa) and centers the sprocket radially. dum and dedendum:
The example sprocket spline has metric dimensions. Although it Reference addendum: hK = 0.45*m = 0.857 mm
is proposed in this article to use metric dimensions for all calcula- Reference dedendum: hF = 0.60*m = 1.143 mm
tions, later, for the search of a suitable standard hob, the module Both dimensions, hK and hF, are reference values that split
can be converted into diametral pitch in order to find the closest the tooth depth into the reference addendum and the reference
hob — either in the metric or in the imperial system. dedendum. This means that neither of the values is related to the
The tooth depth is calculated using the difference between pitch circle. The pitch diameter is calculated like for a standard
major and minor diameter divided by two: spur gear by multiplying the module with the number of teeth:
Depth = (dMajor–dMinor)/2 = 2 mm d0 = m*z = 22.857 mm

The tooth proportions addendum and dedendum relate the It can be recognized that the pitch diameter is smaller than
depth to the still-unknown module: the minor diameter of the spline. Because the spline is not a
Depth = hK + hF = 0.45*m + 0.60*m meshing gear member, there is no working pitch diameter and
the meaning of the pitch diameter is primarily important for
This relationship allows to calculate a module of: the choice of the hob cutter and/or the broach. However, it is

September/October 2019 | GEAR TECHNOLOGY 81

 technical

meaningful to calculate a reference diameter that separates the The spline set always has a V0 profile shift relation which means:
reference addendum and the reference dedendum: xInternal + xExternal = 0
and
dRef = dMinor + 2*hF = 26.286 mm xExternal = – xInternal = +0.572

The difference between the pitch diameter and the reference Defining the Spline Pressure Angle
diameter can now be used to calculate the profile shift, which is: If the splines are being designed, then one of the preferred pres-
x*m = (d0–dRef)/2 sure angles from the standards should be used. ANSI and DIN
or: offer the choice between 30°, 37.5° and 45°. In the JIS standard
x = (d0–dRef)/(2*m) = – 0.9 also a pressure angle of 20° is proposed.
The initially calculated module of 1.905 mm will not allow If the spline is designed for an aftermarket product (for
utilizing a standard broach for the internal sprocket spline. If the example the sprocket shown Fig. 7), then a simple measure-
module is now rounded to a number from the DIN/ISO table of ment — preferably on a CMM or with a Vernier caliper as shown
preferred modules, then the rounding to 2.0 mm is proposed. (Fig. 8) — can be conducted to obtain a first pressure angle
Rounded module: mFinal = 2.0 mm estimation. If the aftermarket product is the sprocket (not the
shaft), then it would be desirable to obtain the measurement
This module rounding is without any tangible consequence if explained in Figure 8 on the spline shaft.
the spline shaft, as well as the sprocket spline, are together in the The measurement results are used together with the depth of
design and manufacturing planning stage. If the sprocket design the spline tooth to calculate the approximated pressure angle:
is done for an aftermarket purpose, and has to fit on an OEM αapprox = arctan[2*Depth/(t1–t2)]
shaft spline, then the working pressure angle at the reference
diameter might show some mismatch. In the present case the For the example in Figures 6 and 7 with a topland t2 = 2.60 mm,
rounding was only small and pressure angle mismatch will be a root width t 1  = 7.30 mm, and a depth of 2.0 mm the
within an acceptable tolerance.
With the new, rounded module the previ-
ously calculated addendum and dedendum values
have to be preserved. However, the original fac-
tors for the calculation of addendum and deden-
dum (hK = 0.45*m and hF = 0.60*m) have changed
by the module rounding. This fact is not relevant,
because the mm-value of the sum of addendum and
dedendum remain the same, as well as the top-root
clearance.
After the module rounding, the pitch diameter
and the profile shift factor have to be recalculated:
d0Final = mFinal*z = 24.00 mm
xFinal*mFinal = (d0Final–dRef)/2
xFinal = xInternal = (d0Final–dRef)/(2*mFinal) = – 0.572

Figure 7 Example sprocket with internal spline.

Figure 8 Measurement of topland root and depth.

82 GEAR TECHNOLOGY | September/October 2019

[www.geartechnology.com]
approximated pressure angle is: which allowed a mature choice of the closest value.
αapprox = arctan[2*2.00/(7.30–2.60)] = 40.39° The final section of the article aids in the selection of a hob cut-
ter for the shaft and a shaper cutter for the internal spline. For the
The approximated angle is between the preferred angle 37.5° and correct setup of the manufacturing machine the calculation of the
45° from the standards. The difference from 45° is 4.61° and the center distances between work and tool was presented.
difference from 37.5° is only 2.89°. The decision therefore is 37.5°: For more information. Questions or comments regarding this
αExternal = αInternal = 37.5° paper? Contact Dr. Hermann Stadtfeld at [email protected].

37.5° is a popular pressure angle for splines, which also indicates References
that the result of measurement and calculation is realistic. It is 1. AGMA 945-A18 “Splines - Design and Application,” published by the
American Gear Manufacturers Association, November 2018.
recommended that the major diameter of the sprocket is equal 2. ANSI B92.1 “Standard, Involute Splines and Inspection,” published by
to the outside diameter of the spline shaft to assure a major Society of Automotive Engineers, 1996.
diameter fit. If the sprocket is the transmission output of a uni- 3. ISO 4156-2005 “Standard, Straight Cylindrical Involute Splines — Metric
Module, Side Fit,” published by International Organization for
directional unit, then the flanks can receive a small backlash Standardization, 2005.
(e.g. — sprocket spline tooth thickness tolerance ISO 7H and 4. ISO 14 “Standard, Straight-Sided Splines for Cylindrical Shafts with Internal
shaft spline tooth thickness tolerance 7f). If sprocket and spline Centering — Dimensions, Tolerances and Verification,” published by
International Organization for Standardization, 1982.
have to transmit torque in frequently changing directions, then 5. DIN 5480 “Standard, Splined Connections with Involute Splines Based on
a transition fit or a press fit of the spline teeth is recommended Reference Diameters,” published by DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung
(sprocket ISO 7H, shaft ISO 7n). e.V., Berlin, 2006.
6. JIS B 1603-1995 “Standard, Straight Cylindrical Involute Splines: Side
The tolerance of the major diameter of the internal spline Fit — Generalities, Dimensions and Inspection,” published by Japanese
should be selected as a transition fit; for example, ISO H7 (the Standards Association, 1995.
outside diameter of the spline shaft should be ISO j7). 7. JIS D 2001-1959 “Standard, Involute Spline for Automobiles,” published by
Japanese Standards Association, 1959.

Defining Tool and Cutting Parameters For Related Articles Search

The tool for the spline shaft can be a standard ISO spline hob
cutter module 2.0 with a pressure angle of 37.5° and sharp cor- splines
ners at the hob teeth. Due to the profile shift of xExternal = +0.572, at www.geartechnology.com

the hob cutter must be retracted from the theoretical position by

xExternal*m = 1.144 mm away from the shaft. Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld is the Vice President
The tool for the internal spline can be a standard ISO spline of Bevel Gear References Technology and R&D at the
shaper cutter, for example, with 8 teeth. The center distance Gleason Corporation and Professor of the Technical
University of Ilmenau, Germany. As one of the world’s
between shaper cutter and internal spline is: most respected experts in bevel gear technology, he
Center Distance=  d0/2–x*m–d0Cutter/2 has published more than 300 technical papers and 10
= 24.00/2–(–0.572)*2.00–(d0Cutter/2 + m*xt) books in this field. Likewise, he has filed international
patent applications for more than 60 inventions based
A profile shift of the shaper cutter xt might be required with upon new gearing systems and gear manufacturing methods, as well as
the low number of cutter teeth, and is therefore considered in cutting tools and gear manufacturing machines. Under his leadership
the center distance formula. the world of bevel gear cutting has converted to environmentally
friendly, dry machining of gears with significantly increased power
density due to non-linear machine motions and new processes. Those
Summary developments also lower noise emission level and reduce energy
This article provides a guideline for the selection of a suit- consumption.
able standard in connection with the kind of spline to be For 35 years, Dr. Stadtfeld has had a remarkable career within the
designed and manufactured. Some basic formulae have been field of bevel gear technology. Having received his Ph.D. with summa
explained, together with a strategy on how to find standard cum laude in 1987 at the Technical University in Aachen, Germany,
he became the Head of Development & Engineering at Oerlikon-
tooling by calculating an appropriate profile shift factor for Bührle in Switzerland. He held a professor position at the Rochester
the spline to be designed. If an aftermarket part like a sprocket Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York From 1992 to 1994. In
should be matched to an existing spline shaft, then the dimen- 2000 as Vice President R&D he received in the name of The Gleason
sions of major and minor diameter can be found on the shaft. Works two Automotive Pace Awards — one for his high-speed dry
cutting development and one for the successful development and
Addendum and dedendum have to consider the recommended implementation of the Universal Motion Concept (UMC). The UMC
top root clearance (on the not-centering top root combina- brought the conventional bevel gear geometry and its physical
tion). If those facts are all taken into consideration, then it is properties to a new level. In 2015, the Rochester Intellectual property
Law Association elected Dr. Stadtfeld the “Distinguished Inventor of
not important to know if the mating, existing shaft was manu-
the Year.” Between 2015–2016 CNN featured him as “Tech Hero” on
factured with an English standard hob and the sprocket is a Website dedicated to technical innovators for his accomplishments
manufactured with a metric standard hob; this is as long as both regarding environmentally friendly gear manufacturing and technical
members use the appropriate profile shift, which will assure that advancements in gear efficiency.
the reference diameters of shaft and internal spline are identical. Stadtfeld continues, along with his senior management position at
Also, a simple method for determining the pressure angle of an Gleason Corporation, to mentor and advise graduate level Gleason
employees, and he supervises Gleason-sponsored Master Thesis
existing spline has been presented. The result was compared to programs as professor of the Technical University of Ilmenau — thus
the ANSI and ISO table of recommended spline pressure angles helping to shape and ensure the future of gear technology.

September/October 2019 | GEAR TECHNOLOGY 83