Ideas to make a simple shaft

[Garage Elf]

I have a manual pasta machine that is powered by a hand crank, like the one in the picture below.

I want to power this machine to make it easier to use. I have an old drill, a router speed control unit, and an idea of how to put it all together. But I'm having a problem with the drive shaft. If I heat that crank I could try to unbend it, but it probably will be too imperfect to serve as a shaft. If I cut it off at the first bend, it will be too short to fit the chuck and fit into the pasta roller.

Any ideas how to duplicate that shaft with the two ears on it? I think it was formed by stamping, which I have no way of doing...

The shaft measures 8mm diameter.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[txcncman]

Get some 8mm round alloy steel of appropriate length and make a shaft from it. Where you see the pinched flats can probably be substituted with one or more roll pins.

[Garage Elf]

Get some 8mm round alloy steel of appropriate length and make a shaft from it. Where you see the pinched flats can probably be substituted with one or more roll pins.

Tx - interesting - so you think just slipping them in? I wonder if they'd stay fixed or if I'd need to epoxy them.

[txcncman]

The idea behind a roll pin (rolled spring pin) is that you make the hole just slightly smaller than the pin and then press the pin into the hole. Until you press the pin out, it should stay. And since roll pins are made of spring steel, they tend to have good wear resistance and strength.

Spring Pin, Slot, 3/4x1/8 L, Pk100 - Spring Pins - Pins - 5BY16 : Grainger Industrial Supply

[Garage Elf]

The idea behind a roll pin (rolled spring pin) is that you make the hole just slightly smaller than the pin and then press the pin into the hole. Until you press the pin out, it should stay. And since roll pins are made of spring steel, they tend to have good wear resistance and strength.

Spring Pin, Slot, 3/4x1/8 L, Pk100 - Spring Pins - Pins - 5BY16 : Grainger Industrial Supply

Tx - thanks, I see how that could work. I guess that would complicate the setup and breakdown for each use, or I'd need to leave the shaft permanently installed, which would be a little klugey. It's a good idea to fall back on if I have to (but that didn't stop me from ordering a 300pc set of pins and a punch set...good to have!)

[FannBlade]

Might look and see if you have a cheap screwdriver with right size shaft. Then break or cut handle off most are fixed in the handle with stamped "pins" like the one shown in your pic.

[txcncman]

Well, if you had some sketches of your idea to upload, there might be other ideas to be offered. I have designed and built several mechanical devices over the years with on hand materials.

[Garage Elf]

I think I might get what I need by cutting the end off the handle and threading it (M8 -1.25) and using a coupling nut to connect it to a piece of M8 threaded rod.

Seems like a $20 solution to a $5 problem, but it could work, and give me a chance to use that Harbor Freight metric tap & die set I picked up 5 years ago and never used.