The motor rotating shaft is horizontal, the drive pinion spin axis is also horizontal. The issue is these axes aren’t aligned, they are parallel to one another. The Cardan Shaft redirects the travel shaft to the travel pinion without changing the direction of rotation.
Widely used in industry, cardan shafts have confirmed practical on applications where space is limited-as well while in conditions where an aspect in the machine train (e.g. paper roll) may need to be actuated (dynamically positioned) to another position when the machines are not running. The universal joint allows for limited motion without uncoupling. To ensure adequate lubrication circulation, which inhibits the universal joints from seizing, cardan shafts are normally installed with an angle from four to six 6 degrees at the universal joints. Experience, though, has proven that the angle between your shafts of the driver and driven unit ought to be kept to a minimum, preferably less than 4.36 mrads (0.25 degrees). Ideally, the angles between the driver and driven shafts and the cardan shaft, 
proven as β1 and β2 in Fig. 1, would be equal. Geometrically, this would mean zero angularity existing between your driver and driven product: In other words, the shafts of the driver and powered machine will be parallel to one another.
Usually it includes a tubular shaft, two sets of Universal Joints and glove system – ferrule stepper, among others. It is certainly a component of the transmission program, its function is certainly to redirect the engine turning movement, after passing through the gearbox and the drive to the wheel, going right through the ‘planetary and satellite’ system etc.
Our specialised staff will gladly help you find the proper universal joint for the application or will develop a suitable solution according to your unique requirements.
Cardan shaft, also called cardinal shaft, is an element of torque transmission.