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ghufstader · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

I need to replicate the SAE #60 spline on a Curtiss Wright R-3350 Propeller Shaft.
Does anyone have a drawing of that shaft or have detailed dimensions/material/heat treat used?
I have seen a poor copy of AN-9506 (from the AEHS discussion board) which has some SAE #60, but it is not readable in the current condition.
Also, if anyone has a recommended machine shop that can cut an SAE #60 spline, I would appreciate that lead as well.

Thank you,
Brian Rodgers
Texas
CAF Devil Dog Squadron

rkammlott · Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Teaneck NJ

i have to ask. what are you building? you could probably find a beat nose case cheap with the splines your looking for . post a wanted ad on barnstormers.

ghufstader · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Yes, after review of post #1, I could have added a bit more detail. Embarassed

I work for the Texas A&M Wind Tunnel in College Station, Texas.
We currently have a 2500 Hp electric motor turning a cut-down (13.5 ft) 4-bladed (B-29 blades) Hamilton Standard hub with a Curtiss Electric Pitch Control Motor. Yes, my understanding is that there was a bit of modification to do that mating. The motor connects to the hub via TWO R-3350 Propeller Shafts mated back-to-back with the motor-side one modified by having its nut thread area removed.
A 3000 Hp upgrade is going to be happening soon and I was tasked with making a custom shaft to eliminate the need of two more R-3350 prop shafts. Since the shaft must mate with the SAE #60 splined hub, I need to know the spline info. Hard to find that !!
BTW, if anyone can help find another Curtiss Electric Pitch Control motor assembly, we would like to puchase a spare !! Those are equally hard to come by and I am also searching for that assembly's drawings if a custom armature has to be made at some point in the future.
The Tunnel can currently generate a 200mph breeze and the goal is to approach 250mph with the new motor.

Brian Rodgers

ghufstader · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 4

Regarding my search, I was finally able to find a drawing of the Wright R-3350 propeller shaft in the collection at Wright State University (Ohio). After signing a standard usage agreement (can't use it on a flying aircraft), I was sent a .pdf and .tif of the drawing. The drawing was in bad shape, but most of the information was readable; at least the bits that I needed. The SAE #60 dimensions were there, however, not enough so that one could machine such just with that drawing. I found a local spline-cutting machine shop that had some CNC cutting machines and was pleased to know that "SAE 60" was a spline type found in their gear software! So, all I had to do was tell them where to start/stop the spline. Their software calculated the involute gear tooth form.
Brian

kmccutcheon · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 05:24 Post subject:

Great news, Brian.

I saw the Wright State collection about three years ago; at that time they had no idea what they had. It is good to know that enough work has been done to allow location of a drawing.

Lucky break on the CNC software also!
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Kimble D. McCutcheon