As a machine component, a shaft is commonly a cylindrical bar that supports and rotates with devices for receiving and delivering rotary motion and torque. The crankshaft of a reciprocating engine receives its rotary motion from each of the cranks, via the pistons and connecting rods(the slider-crank mechanism), and delivers it by means of coupling, gears, chains or belts to the transmission, camshaft, pump and other devices. The camshaft, driven by a gear or chain from the crank-shaft delivers rotary motion to the valve actuating mechanism.
An axle is usually defined as a stationary cylindrical member on which wheels and pulleys can rotate, but the rotating shafts that drive the rear wheels of an automobile are also called axles, no doubt a carryover from horse-and-buggy days. It is common practice to speak of short shafts on machines as spindles, especially tool-carrying or work-carrying shafts on machine tools.
In the days when all machines in a shop were driven by one large electric motor or a prime mover, it was necessary to have long lineshafts running the length of the shop and supplying power, by belts, to shorter counter-shafts jackshaft, or headshafts. These lineshafts were assembled from separate lengths of shafting clamped together by rigid couplings. Although it is usually more convenient to drive each machine with a separate electric motor, and the present-day trend is in this direction, there are still some situations in which a group drive is more economical.