While less common than swashplate types in modern excavators for main circuits, the bent-axis axial piston pump offers distinct advantages, particularly in high-speed applications or auxiliary functions. Its principle also relies on pistons reciprocating within a rotating cylinder block, but the reciprocation is achieved by bending the axis of the drive shaft relative to the axis of the cylinder block. The pistons are connected to the drive shaft via ball-and-socket joints. As the drive shaft rotates, the angular offset forces the pistons to move in and out of their cylinder bores as the distance between the drive flange and cylinder block face changes cyclically.