Machine Screws - Types And Applications

Across a myriad of industries, ranging from aerospace to construction and countless others, fasteners are required to securely hold appliances together. There are dozens of fastener types that can be used for industrial jobs, such as screws and bolts, but machine screws in particular play an important role in various applications. Machine screws can be further broken down into their different models, sizes, materials, and configurations, all of which offer different benefits for different requirements. For your better knowledge, this blog will explore the types of machine screws available on the market and the applications in which they are beneficial.

As with typical screws, machine screws are available with many different head types and can be either coarse-threaded or fine-threaded, but they stand apart from typical screws and other fastener types because of a few distinguishing factors. In general, machine screws are smaller than their counterparts and have blunted tips, rather than sharp points. They also tend to be stronger than other screw types as they are manufactured to high standards with refined techniques designed to improve quality, precision, and thread-uniformity. As the threading on machine screws is fine and accurate, they are often intended for use with a pre-drilled interior tapped hole or a nut. Given their special designs, machine screws are most often used in fastening metal parts together in construction, but they are also popular components of vehicles, engines, large-scale industrial equipment, and more.

Typically, machine screws are used in tandem with metal parts and panels and are easy to use for those familiar with any other types of screws or bolts. To insert a machine screw into a pre-drilled hole, one will likely use a power tool, but a hand-held drill can also do the job. When using a nut with a machine screw, the nut will typically go behind the rearmost component or part being fastened. Depending on the application, one might use any type of size, head type, material, and thread grading. While this allows for a plethora of options, we will look closely at a few of the more popular designs of machine screws.

Four of the most popular machine screws one can procure include hex head, flat head, oval head, and cheese head machine screws. Hex head machine screws get their name from their hexagonal head shape, with six sides that are typically used in tandem with a wrench. However, these screws may also include a recessed drive socket in the head for more common screw driving tools. Meanwhile, flat head screws are ideal for applications where the head of the screw must sit flush with the surface of the workpiece, as they allow for smooth finishes. Oval head machine screws have slightly raised heads, but they also stick out less than an industrial pan head screw. Lastly, cheese head machine screws are similar to traditional round head screws when viewed from above, but in profile, the flat-topped head is cylindrical and has a notable amount of depth to it. This type is often chosen for extra strength and durability.  

Whether you require machine screws with hex tops, slot tops, steel bodies, brass bodies, and more, we are equipped to meet all your needs on Electronics 3Sixty, a leading supplier of aircraft parts. Owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, we boast access to over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items from trusted manufacturers worldwide. We encourage you to browse our ever-expanding inventory at your leisure and submit a Request for Quote form for any items you wish to procure. Through our Instant Quote service, all requests will be answered in 15 minutes or less with a custom quotation for your comparisons. To learn more about our products and services, or to receive one-on-one assistance, contact us via phone or email at any time; we are available 24/7x365.

1. richard miller
2. Posted on July 26, 2022
aviation

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