noun
- A short shaft in machinery that transmits power between a motor and a main shaft, or between two shafts at different speeds or angles.
Usage: technical; mechanical engineering
Examples
- The jackshaft connects the engine to the main drive shaft in the industrial press.
- Engineers installed a jackshaft to adjust the speed ratio between the two rotating components.
- The factory's textile machinery relied on a jackshaft to distribute power efficiently.
- A worn jackshaft bearing caused vibration throughout the assembly line.