Key-way tube shaft: A FlexiForce invention! To reduce costs FlexiForce together with a customer and a supplier developed the key-wayed tubular shaft made out of 3 mm galvanized steel, article code 705GBL. This was in 1995. This shaft is being made on a roll forming machine, where the seam is welded and galvanized online. The distance between two radius determine the depth of the key way, which is different than a standard ¼” key way. Special keys of 3/8x1/4” are needed for this key-way.
• For very heavy overhead doors, solutions without springs are provided, where the shaft has a diameter of 200 mm or larger. These doors are driven by heavy-duty e-operators. Cover it up! The finishing touch: FlexiForce introduced last year black plastic covers to close both ends of the tube shafts. Looks better and prevents moist and dirt coming out of the shafts on site. 701CAP for the tube shaft, 702CAP for the 2 mm tube shaft with key-way and 705CAP for the 705GBL-shaft.
Depending on the installation type, this shaft can be used for all lift systems up to doors of 5000x4200mm (wxh) or max. door weight of 300 kg. This is covering almost 75% of the industrial doors. Last year a residential version (702GBL..) made of 2 mm steel was added to the program.
701CAP
Solid shaft production
701CAP FlexiForce solid shafts are manufactured using a highly specialized process. Cylindrical lengths of steel of 26 mm are drawn through different dies until the appropriate exterior diameter and keyway sizes have been realized. This manufacturing method results in extremely accurate dimensioning. It prevents the so-called “corkscrew effect” and it leaves no sharp edges. This method is better than milling in the key-way afterwards. “Need-to-knows” on shafts • To be able to mount standard motors with 1” shaft access, to the different kind of shafts on the market you need shaft adaptors. Since FlexiForce is supplying industrial motor since beginning of 2008 we will introduce some different shaft adaptors later this year. Our coupler 702ST-1/2 is a solution to connect 1” shaft with 1¼” shafts. • Some bigger independent door companies have introduced their own size of shaft in the past. Main reason is of course to protect the after sales maintenance on their doors. But also an optimum of strength and used material is the reason for this shaft design. For example: diameter 25, 30 mm and even 32 mm hexagon shaped shafts where no key is needed. • With narrow but high overhead doors there is often too little room to fit the springs; this problem can be solved by running the shaft outside the days opening or by placing an additional shaft above the shaft (tandem shaft) and connecting the two via chain and gear wheels. Also when in theory cable of more than 6 mm is needed, a tandem shaft could be the solution. • Did you know that 1” shafts in fact have an external dimension that is a fraction under 25.4 mm? 17
702CAP
705CAP