Articles 

The Tale of Two Screw Heads

2011-02-23

When it comes to joint design, the engineer or designer has a whole host of decisions to make. Some of the factors are operating as well as static loads, joint materials, environmental conditions, and required pre-load to name a few. Based on these factors, a fastener is chosen for its strength and the pitch of the threads. However, one question an engineer or designer seldom asks him or herself is what type of screw head should I use? In some cases, this question could be a critical factor in the survivability of the joint. The types of head styles available for screws/bolts in today’s market are quite broad. The most common used fastener in the automotive industry is probably the hex flange and heavy hex flange. Another head style is the socket cap screw. This style is not used as much in the auto industry as it is used in other industrial applications. It is this head style, the standard socket head cap screw that sometimes causes a problem with the survivability of a threaded joint if not used correctly. This article will examine a specific case when the socket screw is not the appropriate choice to make.