Are friction hinges available with a hollow shaft to allow wires or cables to pass through?

The Reell HTH60 and HTI360 are designed to allow wire pass-through for power and data cables. Reell has also designed this feature into custom applications. The HTH60 is ideal for larger applications. For a smaller application, consider the HTI360.

Hollow Shaft Hinges

Hollow Shaft Hinges for Wired & Electric Applications

Reell hollow shaft friction hinges offer easy mounting and positioning, made for electronic devices and monitors requiring wire pass-through. Featuring 360° rotation and a hollow internal diameter, wires, tubing, and connectors pass through for hidden wiring and streamlined assembly in electrical devices.

Reell hollow shaft friction hinges solve two problems with a single component: controlled positioning and internal routing through the pivot point. Engineers get a compact, validated component that delivers consistent torque, smooth feel, and long-term performance without designing their own mechanism to control position.

Routing through the center of the joint eliminates external cable management and reduces assembly complexity. One component replaces multiple parts, installs without adjustment, and performs reliably over the life of the product.

What is a Hollow Shaft Hinge?

A hollow shaft hinge is a type of friction hinge specifically designed to have an open center that allows wires, cables, tubing, and connectors to pass directly through the pivot point center. It combines controlled positioning with internal routing in a single component, helping engineers reduce part count, simplify assembly, and maintain consistent torque and performance in a compact, integrated design.

Hollow Shaft Hinges for Motion Control Solutions

Reell hollow shaft hinges offer reliable positioning and hidden wiring for electrical applications that require neat, compact integration. Our hinges solve for common motion and positioning challenges, including:

Pinched cable or wires between moving components

Jerky, inconsistent motion from wires crossing the path of movement

Limited rotation due to cable or wiring constraints blocking movement

Bulky and messy external wiring creating disorganized appearance

Premature wear and failure at bend points from exposed wires

Removed risk of wire tampering and improved end user safety

A simple yet effective hollow core solves these common challenges. If our standard product sizes and internal diameters don’t fit your particular application, we also offer custom design options.

Important Considerations

Selecting the correct hollow shaft hinge for your application ensures better performance and a longer life cycle. Key considerations include:

Torque and load requirements
Range of motion and rotation needs
Mounting configuration requirements
Internal diameter or pass-through size
Environmental conditions
Cycle life requirements

Choosing the right part offers an optimized rotational joint, reliable movement, and consistent, long-lasting application cycles.

A hollow shaft hinge is used specifically for electrical applications that require a passageway to route wires or tubing from one side of a rotating joint to the other. Perfect for electrical applications like monitors, vehicle devices, and medical or retail displays, the hollow shaft allows for controlled rotation and positioning while creating a path for internal wire routing along the axis of rotation.

Traditional hinges and inserts don’t offer wire pass-through due to their solid shaft. However, Reell solves this problem by creating a solution that offers repeatable movement while hiding wires inside its hollow shaft. The result is smooth, reliable positioning without wires dangling or getting in the way of an application.

Ask an Engineer

Friction discs, rubber washers or plastic-on-plastic interfaces are common attempts to hold position in a rotating joint. As many engineers learn, they can work on a single prototype, but they are difficult to control during production. Small changes in compression, surface wear, material variation, or inconsistent assembly lead to an inconsistent feel and ultimately the holding force in the joint. Over time, wear and relaxation reduce holding torque, forcing rework or in-field adjustment by the user.

Reell provides a single component that addresses each of these issues, reduces component count, simplifies assembly, and eliminates the need for adjustment over the entire product life.

If your rotating joint requires consistent torque, long life, and no adjustment, specify a Reell hollow shaft solution so you can focus on the other aspects of your design.

Ready to Solve Your Motion Challenges?

Reell is the trusted global partner for friction hinges, torque inserts, springs, clutches, and custom motion systems. Our components deliver premium movement and long service life across industries.

Reell Hollow Shaft Hinges