The flexible shaft is used in a wide variety of industries, wherever it is necessary to transmit torque at arbitrary angles. It is used as a transmission in drills and engravers, drills, as well as for transmitting rotation to measuring instruments such as a car speedometer.

Why a flexible shaft is needed and where it is used

A flexible drive for a drill consists of two main parts: a flexible cable with an armored braid and a soft sheath. On the one hand, it is equipped with a connection to the engine or manual drive, on the other hand, it has a tool holder.

It is very convenient to use a flexible shaft when you need to screw or unscrew fasteners in narrow places with difficult access, where you can’t put a screwdriver in working position

Flexible shafts are also used to drive hand tool for thin and fine work. Placing a heavy high-speed electric motor in the tool itself would lead to rapid operator fatigue and loss of precision in operations. An example is a dentist's or engraver's drill.

As a result, the user gets the opportunity to work for a long time with a convenient, light and small-sized device, and the level of vibration from the electric motor, which is transmitted to the hand, is also reduced.

A feature of the use of a flexible shaft is the limitation of the maximum torque that it is able to transmit. If this limit is exceeded, the cable twists and the shaft fails.

Design features

The main design feature and at the same time the main advantage in application is the possibility of bending it anywhere in any direction. This is achieved by using the following components:

• flexible and durable steel braided cable that transmits torque;
• armored braid or coiled spring wire acting as a flexible drive housing.

Outside, the wire is covered with a corrugated plastic sheath, inside of which there is grease. It reduces friction, prevents abrasion of the core cable and protects it from moisture and dust.

The design of the flexible drive drill also includes bearings to which the cable is attached. They keep it spinning. At one end, the cable is fixed in the chuck, at the other end it is provided with a tool mount.

Such a drive is designed for light and delicate work, you should not count on it to unscrew a soured bolt or wrap a 130 mm self-tapping screw at full speed - you must remember that the torque transmitted by the flexible shaft is limited.

How to DIY

Those who like to make a tool with their own hands may well make a flexible drive for a drill on their own.

Important! it will not work to make an armor braid yourself, for this you need industrial equipment. It is also important to understand that a home-made flexible shaft for a drill will be inferior to the factory one, primarily in terms of working life. And it is better to use it occasionally - then it will not let you down at a crucial moment. For professional work in large volumes better to spend money on a purchased extension cord.

You will have to buy a braided cable at the store, asking you to cut the length you need. Samodelkin remains to cut the ends, mount outdoor protection by filling it lubricants. As a blank for the mount, a shank from a broken drill of a suitable diameter will fit into the chuck.

Alternatively, as an initial workpiece, you can take a cable from an automobile speedometer, as well as a motorcycle gas or clutch control drive.

One end of the armor-braided wire will need to be welded to the shank of the broken drill using a nut of the appropriate diameter and welding machine. A drill chuck or a hex adapter for a quick tool change is welded to the second end of the cable. Remember that when working with such a drive, you need to hold it not by the rotating cartridge, but by the fixed braid. Such a DIY device will not only save money, but also make the drive exactly the length you need. Most factory drives are 25 or 50 cm long.

Flexible shaft for engraver

The engraver, or drill, develops high speed - up to 30 thousand rpm. Small-sized and conveniently lying in the hand, the device is used for operations:

• polishing;
• milling;
• drilling holes of small diameter;
• grinding, etc.

Working as an engraver requires high precision of the master's movements. At the same time, the efforts applied are small, compared, say, with tightening self-tapping screws. The torque is also small. Such devices are used by jewelers and craftsmen. artistic creativity who create works that are not inferior to the best examples of carvers in wood, stone, and also chasing. Engraving is performed on materials such as:

• metal;
• wood;
• a rock;
• glass;
• plastics.

The flexible shaft for the engraver minimizes the manual effort of the user, turning many hours of work into an exciting experience.

Shafts for lawn mowers

In mechanical scythes with electric and gasoline drive, both flexible and rigid shafts are used.

In powerful lawn mowers, capable of cutting tall, tough and thick grass and even small shrubs, all-metal hard drives are used. Such devices are designed for continuous operation and have high torque. They also have significant dimensions and weight, they are worn on shoulder straps. A thick rigid fishing line or powerful steel knives - two, three or four - bladed are used as a working body.

A flexible drive is used in light, low-power and small-sized trimmers designed for mowing corners after a lawn mower or cutting grass on small lawns. They hold such trimmers with one hand, and a flexible shaft is used in order to mow in the most comfortable posture. The cutting element of such devices is a fishing line of small or medium thickness or a lightweight two-blade knife. If the device is overloaded, the flexible shaft may twist. The gap in this case, as a rule, occurs near the attachment point of the shaft to the engine. If you can’t buy a “native shaft”, then you need to select from drives of a suitable length in the direction of the braid. Such drives can only rotate in one direction.

Before the beginning seasonal work and after changing the drive, remove the remnants of the old grease, rinse with gasoline or other solvent and fill the cavity in the handle with new grease. The type of lubrication is specified in the user manual.

Flexible Speedometer Shaft

A flexible shaft transmits torque from the transmission of a car or motorcycle to a magnetic speedometer sensor. If the speedometer needle, when driving at a constant speed, begins to twitch or falls into its extreme position, then the cable is faulty. It can be replaced with your own hands. The flexible shaft is selected according to the parts catalog for your car brand. It must match in terms of attachment points and in length. If the cable is too long or too short, there is a risk of bending it under too small a radius. This leads to extraneous noise (similar to howling), increased wear and premature failure of the assembly.

A very popular drill tool is capable of more than indicated in the instructions for its use. The main task of this tool is to drill holes in various existing materials. The improvement of this tool has led to the fact that today a flexible shaft is produced for a drill. This is a special nozzle, thanks to which the torque is transferred to a tool that is not aligned with the electric motor.

The flexible drive consists of such components as a cable with armor and a soft body. One side of such a device is equipped with a tip for fixing in the tool chuck, and the other side has a similar (or collet) chuck to install the appropriate work products: drills, cutters, and others. Use such equipment in such exceptional cases when it is impossible or inconvenient to work with a stationary drill.

On an ongoing basis, a flexible shaft is used in medicine, in particular in dentistry, since almost all drills operate through such a device. In construction, such a device is used extremely rarely, but if it becomes necessary to drill a hole or grind the surface in a hard-to-reach place, then only a flexible shaft on a drill will help solve the problem.

The flexible shaft can be used not only to connect to a drill, but also to a screwdriver or a mini drill. Thanks to this shaft, the working nozzle is removed from the body of the main tool, which allows different kinds delicate work that requires little effort. With the help of such equipment, it is possible to drill holes from 1 mm, as well as to clean, grind, screw and unscrew screws and other fasteners.

It is important to know! The advantage of using a flexible shaft is to reduce the load on the hand, since when performing work, the impact of vibration from the tool and its weight is almost completely eliminated.

Design features

A flexible shaft for a drill is able to bend in any direction, which in fact is its main advantage. This shaft capability was achieved through the use of the following parts:

• A steel cable that plays the role of a rotating core.
• A wire in the form of a spiral located outside the device.

The shaft is covered on the outside with a special sheath, which prevents leakage of lubricant. This lubricant helps to reduce friction, and also protects the core from mechanical stress (abrasion), damage and moisture.

The design of the flexible shaft provides for the use of bearings to which the cable is attached. It is thanks to the bearings that the rotation of the cable is ensured, which is attached to the shank on one side and to the cartridge on the other. A high-quality nozzle for a drill costs about 2000 rubles. There are cheaper models, but it all depends on the manufacturer and the quality of the product.

How to DIY

To equip the electric drill with a flexible shaft design, you can not purchase it, especially if you do not plan to use the device for long-term work. You can make a device yourself from improvised means, while saving not only money, but also time searching.

To make a flexible shaft for a drill or screwdriver, you should use any braided wire in your arsenal. If one is not available, then it can be purchased. At the same time, the length of such a wire can be chosen absolutely any, depending on the technological tasks.

It is important to know! It is impossible to manually wind a spiral layer (armor) on a conventional wire, so a ready-made design should be used.

Alternatively, a speedometer cable from a car or a throttle or clutch cable from a motorcycle can be used to make a flexible shaft. After the finished braided wire is available, you will need to connect one end of it to the shank. As such, you can use the shank from a damaged drill. To connect the steel cable to the shank, you will need a steel nut and a welding machine. The second end of the steel cable must be connected to any available drill chuck. It is important to understand that when performing work using such a device, one should not hold on to the cartridge, but to the braid or the outer layer of the wire.

A home-made shaft design will not only save money, but also get a product of the required length. Standard products manufactured by production have a length of no more than 50 cm. Sometimes this is not enough, so you have to resort to self-manufacturing equipment for a drill.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the drill, due to its improvement, is becoming more and more universal view tool. The flexible shaft is a very handy and efficient drill attachment that can be used to solve any difficult task.

Flexible shafts from the manufacturer - Metallorukav Company

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Production flexible shafts in Moscow. Flexible shafts from the manufacturer - Metallorukav.

SHAFTS FLEXIBLE

What are flexible shafts?

Flexible shafts are designed to transmit torque over a distance from the source to the actuator. Our company manufactures the entire range of flexible shafts for internal vibrators for compaction concrete mixtures, grinding machines, as well as shafts used in speed meters of railway locomotives.

Application area

Flexible shafts have high torsional rigidity and low bending stiffness. flexible shaft used for internal vibrators, grinders and shafts, which are used in the speedometers of railway locomotives. They transfer torque between parts that change their position during operation. Shafts for internal vibrators are distinguished by connecting dimensions, which depend on the diameter of the tip, and along the length. In their design, the shafts contain a core and several layers of steel wire, the winding direction of which alternates in each layer. The manufacturer "Metalorukav" manufactures not only standard sizes products - it is also possible to manufacture shafts and cores to order, based on the technical requirements of the customer. Compared to rigid articulated counterparts, this product has a number of advantages. First, it is easier to install and easy to replace. In addition, the flexible shaft can perfectly transmit rotations in both directions. At the ends of the products are cartridges with which you can easily attach them. Outside, the device is covered with a protective shell that protects the shaft structure from mechanical damage and corrosion.

Range of flexible shafts

It is possible to manufacture shafts and cores according to technical requirements customer.

Shaft flexible V-124B according to TU 4833-028-29124208-2008
The reverse shaft V-124B is designed to drive the speedometer of the diesel locomotive TEM-2 and TPZ-10.

Flexible shaft VSBL-16 according to TU 4833-030-29124208-2008
VSBL-16 is designed to drive the speedometer of diesel locomotives VL-10 and VL-80K.

Shaft flexible
VS-350 and VS-400 according to TU 4833-027-29124208-2008
The VS-350 shaft is designed to transmit torque from the electric motor to the vibrator used for compacting concrete mixtures.
The VS-400 shaft is designed to transmit torque from the electric motor to the vibrator used to compact concrete mixtures in confined spaces. The flexible shaft is made of steel spring wire.

Shaft flexible V-122-1 according to TU 4833-020-29124208-2002
Shaft flexible B-122-1 is designed to transmit torque from the electric motor to the grinder.

Flexible shaft RN-8Ca according to TU 4833-029-29124208-2008
RN-8Ca, reversible, made of stainless wire, designed to transmit torque in drives for special purposes.

Warranty period:
V-124B - 12 months from the date of commissioning
VSBL-16 - 6 months from the date of commissioning
VS-350 and VS-400 - 1000 hours from commissioning
RN-8Ca - service life 750 hours
B-122-1 - 12 months from the date of commissioning

Company advantages

• We are a manufacturer. This guarantees direct deliveries and minimum prices.
• It is possible to manufacture flexible shafts according to the technical requirements of the customer.
• All products have the necessary documents.
• Convenient warehouse in the Moscow region.

A flexible shaft, the main purpose of which is to transmit torque over a considerable distance, is most often used to equip engravers. Such equipment, which, in fact, is a miniature grinder, is actively used for processing parts not big size. In particular, the engraver is used as a mini-drill, with its help, miniature cutting, selective grinding of small elements of products and a whole list of other works are performed.

The most common areas in which flexible shaft engravers are used are the jewelry and electronics industries. Such equipment is actively used by design specialists, employees of car repair stations and workshops engaged in repair household appliances and electronic equipment.

An electric engraver, on which a flexible drive is installed, is especially relevant in situations where processing must be performed in hard-to-reach places of the product. Using interchangeable nozzles, such equipment can be used in all stages of processing, from roughing to finishing.

What operations are performed with a flexible drive engraver

Special attachments help turn an engraver with a flexible shaft installed on it into a truly universal device, which include:

• grinding and polishing wheels, allowing you to bring the surface of the workpiece to a perfectly smooth state;
• brushes used for cleaning the surface of the product and grinding it in hard-to-reach places;
• cutting wheels for cutting products and processing their torn edges;
• drills, with which the device turns into a miniature drill;
• cutters and, allowing you to process products in hard-to-reach places;
• pen-shaped nozzles, with which engraving work is performed.

To ensure the convenience of working with such a device equipped with a flexible drive shaft, you can purchase additional devices - rubber pads on the handle, a power button lock, etc.

Engravers that can be fitted with a flexible drive shaft also include dental drill, nail machine, processing equipment natural stone and drawing on the surface of products from it inscriptions and drawings.

You can also use a flexible shaft for a drill or purchase a flexible shaft for a screwdriver. With the help of such an improvement in conventional power tools, a screwdriver bit or a drill bit can be successfully used to perform work even in the most inaccessible places.

How the engraver is arranged and on what principle it works

The engraver, which allows you to process parts with high precision and productivity, works on the principle conventional drill, and outwardly it is very similar to a large-sized automatic pen. Main structural elements such a device are:

1. engine;
2. flexible drive shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the working nozzle;
3. reducer;
4. a fan used to cool the spindle;
5. the spindle itself with a protruding working part;
6. body of the device with special openings for the exit of heated air;
7. a nut designed to fix the nozzles used;
8. device power regulator;
9. lock button;
10. power switch;
11. hook for hanging the switched off device.

The rotation from the engine is transmitted to the axis of the flexible shaft, back side which connects with working head. The seats of the nozzles are unified, so there are no problems with the choice of the required tool and its replacement.

Equipment selection criteria

When choosing an engraver, you should focus on a number of characteristics.

By the power level of the device, on which its performance directly depends, one can indirectly judge the working life of the drive motor. The power of the engraver, which for serial models can be in the range of 35–300 W, should be chosen based on the tasks for which it is planned to use such equipment. In addition, you must consider how long it will work between switching on and off. The duration of the operating process depends on the hardness of the material from which the workpiece is made. The longer the engraver is used for one inclusion, the more power it should have.

The speed at which the motor shaft and the flexible drive shaft attached to it rotate is also selected depending on the hardness of the materials to be processed with the engraver. Models offered on modern market, can provide a tool rotation speed in the range of 10–35 thousand rpm. Low-speed models can be purchased if they will be used primarily for finishing grinding and polishing. When performing such operations, the tool has a small load, so the engraver itself does not overheat, which means it does not fail.

If you need a more versatile device with a flexible shaft, it is better to give preference to engravers that provide the ability to adjust the speed of rotation of the tool.

The weight and dimensions of the engraver affect how convenient and easy it will be to manipulate such a device during processing with its help. Engravers, which are large and heavy, are much harder to work with, but such devices, as a rule, have more high power and performance. The weight of the engraver with flexible drive shaft can be in the range of 0.5-8.5 kg. When choosing such a device, first of all, the required power and functionality are taken into account, and only then they pay attention to weight and dimensions.

Since they work as an engraver, constantly holding such a device in their hands, its ergonomics, which characterizes the convenience of working with the equipment, is an important factor when choosing. Assessing the ergonomics of the device, you should pay attention not only to its design, but also to the build quality, manufacturing materials, the location of the buttons and the convenience of the handle design.

These parameters are not indicated in the passport for the equipment. It is advisable to pay attention to them if the engraver is used often enough. To assess how much the device makes noise and vibrates during operation, you just need to turn it on and evaluate these parameters. As a rule, engravers of medium power are noisier, and in more resourceful equipment, this problem is provided for by manufacturers and is eliminated by including special elements in the design. It is possible to estimate how much the engraver equipped with a flexible drive shaft heats up only during operation.

Flexible shaft design

A flexible shaft for an engraver or any other equipment with higher requirements for torsional rigidity than for bending rigidity, as mentioned above, is used to transmit torque to elements that change their spatial position during operation.

The main part of the flexible shaft, which is responsible for the main function of such a device, can be a wire rod or a special cable. This item is made from materials with high rigidity for twisting. Additional layers of twisted wire are wound onto the main core of the flexible wire shaft to give it higher rigidity. In order to ensure the safe use of the flexible drive shaft, as well as to protect its surface from damage and retain grease on it, this device placed in a flexible protective sheath, which is stationary with respect to the rotating core.

Depending on the design, flexible shafts can be of right or left rotation, which should be taken into account when choosing and using them. Not only the design of flexible shafts can be different, but also their length, sometimes reaching five meters.

The design of the fastener of such a device depends on where the flexible shaft is installed - on a drill, engraver or screwdriver. Thus, fastening nuts or other types of fastening fittings can be placed at the ends of the shaft.

With flexible shafts different design various mechanisms and equipment are put into action. In addition to engravers, drills and screwdrivers, internal vibrators, lawn mowers and many other types of technical devices are equipped with such shafts. The simplest and most familiar use of a flexible shaft is cleaning sewer pipes from internal blockages.

Mechanical car speedometers are also driven by a flexible shaft.
Making a flexible shaft with your own hands is, of course, possible, but given the loads such a device operates under, it is better not to experiment and purchase serial products from trusted manufacturers. puzzled by the question self-manufacturing flexible shaft is possible only if it will be used to drive low-power equipment operating at low speeds.

Rules for working with an engraver equipped with a flexible shaft

There are a number of rules that should be followed when using a flexible shaft engraver for processing various materials.

Before starting work, nozzles are selected. All of them should be at hand, so that later you do not waste time looking for them. While the device is off, it is better to hang it on a special hook that comes with most modern models.

It is possible to prevent the sticking of the chips formed during the machining process to the surface of the tool if it is first coated with a layer of paraffin. It should be borne in mind: if the design of the tool does not provide for forced ventilation, they can work no more than 15-25 minutes, and then you need to give him time for natural cooling. By doing so, you will save your engraver from premature failure.

Holding the engraver with your hands, you should try not to cover the ventilation slots with your palms.

Mode change

It is necessary to change the speed at which the tool of an engraver equipped with a flexible shaft rotates, both when changing the operations performed, and when switching to processing another material. At low speeds, they process more than soft materials such as plastic. If such materials are machined at high speeds, this can lead to intense heating of the tool and melting of the edges of the workpiece. At medium speeds, they process metal products, at high speeds - from solid natural stone.

Like any other technical device, an engraver equipped with a flexible drive shaft needs proper care. Properly and regularly performed, such care will not only allow you to use the device on its maximum power, but also significantly extend the period of its trouble-free operation.

In the process of processing performed using an engraver, the blades of its fan are actively clogged with dust and small particles waste material. In order for such a fan to work effectively, it must be cleaned regularly using soft tissue dipped in soapy water. Under no circumstances should various solvents and aggressive chemicals be used for these purposes. detergents which can cause premature damage to the fan blades.

The technical condition of the nozzles used with the engraver must also be checked regularly. Worn nozzles should be immediately replaced with new ones, as they can cause increased vibration of the device, which will eventually lead to its premature failure.

It is very important to pay constant attention to the technical condition of the flexible drive shaft of the engraver. On the protective shell of the shaft, which is made of polymer materials, there should be no serious mechanical damage that could lead to premature failure of the shaft. After each use of the engraver, it is advisable to clean its drive flexible shaft from dust and other contaminants, wipe and, if necessary, lubricate the tips with which it is connected to the electric motor and the working nozzle.

In the process of work, it is necessary to ensure that the flexible shaft does not bend too much. Both during storage and during operation, it is necessary to protect the flexible shaft from mechanical damage.

Modern models of engravers and flexible shafts, with which they are driven, are quite reliable devices. When providing regular care they are able to serve for quite a long time without deteriorating their technical characteristics.

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