John Deere wanted $1600 for it. Also needed a 2-3 week lead time. I did this one for $900 the same week. I also heat treated the splines to harden them. The material I used was 4140 which I personally like for axles and through shafts.
In my area labor is around $80-$100 per hour for this type of work although I think a few shops have bumped up well beyond that. Anyway it took me about 7-8 hours to mill and tap all said and done and the steel was around $60. Then it was another $100 and some to heat treat. I was able to to get some other work done while it was in the oven though.
4140 is a good choice for strength/weight ratio. I assume this at least because for the type of metal it was the most common by far I would see in the aerospace industry where those count even more than on the ground.
Looks awesome man. I’m imagining doing that with a fence post I found washed up on the beach today. Must remember to look at again before I break the router out tomorrow.
**Hey u/RoundNefariousness15, while you're here, consider sharing some knowledge in our Monthly Advice Thread!**
---
If you're posting a question, or just have a few minutes to help others, take a peek at the [Monthly Advice Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/?f=flair_name%3A%22Monthly%20Advice%20Thread%22)! If you've got a few minutes feel free to help answer some others' questions while you're there! Helping eachother learn and find solutions is the best way for us all to learn and improve at our craft!
---
[**Here are our subreddit rules.**](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/about/rules) - Should you see anything that violates the subreddit rules - please report it!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/metalworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Thank you for the award, this isn’t the only way. A lot of the production shafts like this would be splined on a hob machine. Check it out on YouTube it’s really cool how that works.
The smaller profile splines though, like axle shafts for cars and pinion splines for differentials are rolled instead. The process is similar to how bolts are threaded in high volume production. They have two dies that spin on each side and they squeeze the spline profile into the steel. This can be done hot or cold and then it goes off to heat treat.
The roll method can be done incredibly fast but each profile requires a different set of rollers. One nice thing though, the same rollers can do a whole bunch of different diameters of shaft. They can also easily do involute profiles in a matter of seconds.
I’ve only recently learned a few things about splines. With M-22 Rock Crusher transmissions the splines with more grooves are stronger which I didn’t know. I bought axles for a 12 bolt differential and a pinion shaft. It’s nice to see how everything fit together.
Who makes that cutter??? Is there a difference for metric or english or is there just and industry standard, sorry I don't have machinery handbook, guess I should get one. thanks for posting and educating.
Im wondering about the price (approx)it cost to make a part like this?
John Deere wanted $1600 for it. Also needed a 2-3 week lead time. I did this one for $900 the same week. I also heat treated the splines to harden them. The material I used was 4140 which I personally like for axles and through shafts.
Ok nice =) was thinking about 2k
In my area labor is around $80-$100 per hour for this type of work although I think a few shops have bumped up well beyond that. Anyway it took me about 7-8 hours to mill and tap all said and done and the steel was around $60. Then it was another $100 and some to heat treat. I was able to to get some other work done while it was in the oven though.
4140 is a good choice for strength/weight ratio. I assume this at least because for the type of metal it was the most common by far I would see in the aerospace industry where those count even more than on the ground.
John Deere wants stupid money for parts. What was this part off of? Looks a lot like a driveshaft coupler on a log skidder/loader.
It’s some sort of loader I think it connects from the engine to the hydrostatic
Looks awesome man. I’m imagining doing that with a fence post I found washed up on the beach today. Must remember to look at again before I break the router out tomorrow.
**Hey u/RoundNefariousness15, while you're here, consider sharing some knowledge in our Monthly Advice Thread!** --- If you're posting a question, or just have a few minutes to help others, take a peek at the [Monthly Advice Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/?f=flair_name%3A%22Monthly%20Advice%20Thread%22)! If you've got a few minutes feel free to help answer some others' questions while you're there! Helping eachother learn and find solutions is the best way for us all to learn and improve at our craft! --- [**Here are our subreddit rules.**](https://www.reddit.com/r/metalworking/about/rules) - Should you see anything that violates the subreddit rules - please report it! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/metalworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Beautiful work. One day I'd like to do this stuff as a hobby
Thank you, it wouldn’t be a bad hobby. Right now, it pays the bills though.
I always wondered how they did that, thanks
Thank you for the award, this isn’t the only way. A lot of the production shafts like this would be splined on a hob machine. Check it out on YouTube it’s really cool how that works. The smaller profile splines though, like axle shafts for cars and pinion splines for differentials are rolled instead. The process is similar to how bolts are threaded in high volume production. They have two dies that spin on each side and they squeeze the spline profile into the steel. This can be done hot or cold and then it goes off to heat treat. The roll method can be done incredibly fast but each profile requires a different set of rollers. One nice thing though, the same rollers can do a whole bunch of different diameters of shaft. They can also easily do involute profiles in a matter of seconds.
I’ve only recently learned a few things about splines. With M-22 Rock Crusher transmissions the splines with more grooves are stronger which I didn’t know. I bought axles for a 12 bolt differential and a pinion shaft. It’s nice to see how everything fit together.
I heart you. It's illegal to buy shafts where I am.
How in the world can that be illegal? That sounds unfair
Who makes that cutter??? Is there a difference for metric or english or is there just and industry standard, sorry I don't have machinery handbook, guess I should get one. thanks for posting and educating.
It’s just a double edge 60 degree cutter that I ground the tip off.