Cardan Shaft

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The Cardan shaft serves to transmit torque and rotation in a drive train, linking parts that cannot be directly connected due to distance constraints or the requirement for relative movement between them. As carriers of torque, these shafts experience torsion and shear stress equivalent to the difference between input torque and load, necessitating strength while avoiding excessive weight. To accommodate alignment variations and differing distances in the drive train components, Cardan shafts often incorporate universal joints, jaw couplings, or rag joints, and sometimes splined or prismatic joints.