In many cases the number of teeth on the gear or sprocket is not divisible by six, the number of sides on the hex shaft, and therefore the relative rotation between two of the same part will result in the teeth being out of alignment with each other. If the first sprocket was put on a shaft with the alignment notch facing upwards, there would be a valley at the top of the sprocket. If the second sprocket was added to the shaft, but rotated clockwise by 60 degrees (by the turn of one flat side), there would be most of a sprocket tooth at the top of that sprocket.