Everything About Screws
While screws seem like simple threaded fastener components that may be used for construction, the diverse applications that they serve can often demand rigorous designs and construction to withstand the various forces assemblies are subjected to. As hardware fasteners that may attach two or more components securely together through friction and traction, screws can be used for the construction of aircraft, electronics, machinery, infrastructure, and much more. In this blog, we will provide an overview of screws, allowing you to best be aware of their various types, designs, materials, applications, and more.
Generally speaking, various types of
screws can be easily identified by the body parts that are commonly featured. On one end of the fastener, a head with a large diameter serves for providing a load surface as well as grooves for accommodating a related tool for tightening. Below the head is the threaded section which ensures that the component can be aligned correctly as it is driven into a component. At the opposite end of the head is the chamfer, that of which is the pointed end which bores into or passes through the materials that it is meant to secure. While screws are similar in appearance to other threaded fasteners such as the bolt, the two components differ in the fact that bolts require a preformed hole and a nut to secure components in an assembly.
To achieve various characteristics that may benefit a specific application,
manufacturers will often choose different materials and finishes for the production of a fastener. Aluminum serves as one of the most common materials for constructing screws, and they permit an ease of manufacturing and result in durable, yet light, fasteners. For greater strength and durability, hardened steel or titanium may be used as well. If corrosion is a concern for a given application, specific materials or finishes should be implemented. As an example, finishing a threaded fastener with zinc can protect underlying materials from corrosion.
While screw and
bolt fasteners are typically contrasted for their differences, various screw types will often be fairly similar in construction and design.
Cap screws are a type that may not be threaded across their entire shank, and they can be installed within a tapped hole in order to secure an object with their shoulder.
Set screws are a type that feature headless shanks, and they can be grouped with shaft collars or hold an axis perpendicularly. To install a set screw, recessed sockets or flat heads may be used. When assembling metallic parts for a machine or system, machine screws are the most common. Relying on a pre-tapped hole and often featuring a countersink,
machine screws are robust and threaded across their entire shank. Beyond such examples, common screw types include eye screws, drive screws, self-drilling screws, shoulder screws, wing screws, and many others.
While using the correct type of screw ensures more proper fastening, it is also important to keep in mind that there may be varying head, tip, and shank configurations that can also affect a component’s ability to be useful for a given installation. With screw head styles such as square, full- bearing, countersunk, truss, and double-chamfered heads, one should always ensure that the screws they procure will accommodate their tools so that proper torque and tightness can be achieved. With various shaped screw tips available as well, the characteristics of gripping, locking, boring, and more may differ to cater towards varying materials and assemblies. Lastly, the dimensions of the screw are also important, as they will dictate the length of the shank, the size and shape of the head, and the various angles of the fastener which will affect its installation.
