

Parallel-sided or straight-sided splineĭepending on their relative axial movement, splines and serrations can also be grouped as fixed splines or flexible splines.The term “spline” provides an umbrella term for all profiles, and the splines can be divided into the following three groups based on their flank form. Surface wear, fretting corrosion, tooth breakage and fatigue failure are the most common failure modes associated with spline joints. Relative axial movement of the mechanical transmission element is required for functional purposes such as speed reducers and clutches.Ī good spline joint provides very high secure torque transmission, little clearance, minimum backlash, good centring between the coupled components, low noise, low wear and small or no axial forces.Mechanical transmission elements such as gears and pulleys might need to be removed from the shaft due to design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA), ie during assembly or to aid manufacturing.They are used mainly for the following reasons.

Although they look like gears, Splines only transmit torque and rotation on the same axis.
