When connecting two or more objects with threaded fasteners, you may want to use washers. Washers won’t hold the objects together. They will, however, distribute the load of the fasteners across a large surface area so that the objects are less likely to sustain damage.
While all washers are used in conjunction with a fastener, they are available in different types. There are plain washers, for instance, and there are beveled washers. Flat washers are the most common. Nonetheless, beveled washers feature a unique design that offers several benefits.
Overview of Beveled Washers
Also known as cupped spring washers, beveled washers are characterized by an uneven, angled design. They aren’t flat like their plain counterparts. Plain washers are flat, whereas beveled washers are angled.
You can find beveled washers in different shapes. Some of them are circular, resulting in a similar appearance to plain washers. Circular beveled washers are essentially the same as plain washers except they are angled. Other beveled washers are square-shaped. They are still angled, but they feature a square shape when viewed from a top-down perspective.
How Beveled Washers Work
Beveled washers are designed to distribute the load of a fastener. All fasteners will apply a load to the objects in which they are installed. When you drive a bolt into an object, for instance, the bolt’s head will press against the surface of the object. Over time, this may lead to damage.
The object may crack, warp or otherwise sustain damage around the area of the fastener’s head. Beveled washers protect objects from damage by distributing the load of fasteners. Beveled washers increase the surface area of the fastener’s load, thus protecting objects from damage.
Some fastening applications may require the use of beveled washers. All beveled washers are angled. An angled design is essentially what distinguishes them from most other types of washers.
Structural beams may require beveled washers. If a structural beam is angled, an angled washer must be used to secure it. Beveled washers are angled. They can be used to secure angled structured beams. For applications involving angled beams, square-shaped bevel washers are used.
In Conclusion
Beveled washers are load-distributing hardware components. Like all washers, they work in conjunction with a fastener. Beveled washers, though, don’t feature the same design as plain washers. Plain washers are flat. Beveled washers, on the other hand, are angled. They have an angled design that allows them to compensate for a lack of parallelism.