If you’re going to fasten two or more objects together with a machine screw, you should consider using a machine screw nut. Nuts, of course, are used in conjunction with screws and bolts. They feature interior threading that mates with the external threading of a screw or bolt. While all nuts feature interior threading, however, machine screw nuts offer the perfect mating system for machine screws.
Machine Screw Nuts Defined
Machine screw nuts are fasteners consisting of a threaded hole. As their name suggests, they are designed for use with machine screws. After placing a machine screw through two or more objects, you can install a machine screw nut on the end. The machine screw nut will hold the objects together, ensuring that they don’t fall or slip off the machine screw.
Machine Screws Defined
What are machine screws exactly? According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), machine screws are threaded fasteners with a diameter of up to 0.75 inches. Some of them have coarse threading, whereas others have fine threading. Regardless, they typically have a small diameter as specified by the ASME. Machine screws are also commonly used in machines.
Common Features of Machine Screw Nuts
Most machine screw nuts are hexagonal. They still have a round threaded interior, but the exterior is hexagonal. With their hexagonal exterior, machine screw nuts are easy to install. You can tighten, as well as loosen, them using a standard hex socket.
Both machine screws and machine screw nuts are available in different materials. Some of them are made of carbon steel. Carbon steel is a strong and durable material that holds up well under tension. Other machine screws and machine screw nuts are made of zinc-plated steel. They feature a carbon steel core that’s coated with a thin layer of zinc. The zinc-plated finish acts as a shield against corrosion and environmental contamination.
There are different types of machine screw nuts. The most common type is hex, which features a hexagonal shape with six sides. In addition to hex, there are nylon machine screw nuts. Also known as nylon lock nuts, they feature a small ring of nylon material around the center ring. This nylon ring provides additional resistance to vibrations.
Finally, there are wing-style machine screw nuts. Wing-style machine screw nuts feature tabs or “wings.” Rather than using a hex socket, you can tighten or loosen them with your hands. Turning the tabs clockwise will tighten them, and turning the tabs counterclockwise will loosen them.