Lecture 3

Fun with Fasteners

Winter 2019
Steven McClain
 According to Wikipedia:
 A fastener (US English) or fastening (UK English) is a hardware device that
mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together.

 The market was estimated at USD 83.34 billion in 2018.

 There are a fantastically huge number of types of fasteners available!

anchor bolt, batten, bolt (fastener) : screw, brass fastener, buckle, button, cable tie, cam, captive fastener,
clamp (or cramp): hose clamp, clasps: lobster clasp, cleco, clips : circlip, hairpin clip, paper clip, terry clip,
clutch, drawing pin (thumbtack), flange, frog, grommet, hook-and-eye closure, hook and loop fastener,
Velcro, latch, nail, pegs : clothespin, tent peg, PEM nut, pins : bowtie cotter pin, circle cotter, clevis fastener,
cotter, Dowel, Linchpin, R-clip, split pin, spring pin, tapered pin, retaining rings : circlip, e-ring, rivet,
rock bolt, rubber band (or bands of other materials), screw anchor, snap fastener, staple, stitches, strap,
threaded fastener : captive threaded fasteners, nut, screw, washers, threaded insert, threaded rod, Tie,
toggle bolt, treasury tag, twist tie, wedge anchor, zipper
Source: homestratosphere
Source: homestratosphere
Source: homestratosphere
 Source: homestratosphere

Also known as Robertson (invented in Canada)

Source: homestratosphere
Source: homestratosphere
 Fastener length is generally measured from the point where the surface of the
material will be when the fastener is installed to the end of the fastener. Thus,
fasteners with heads that sit above the surface are measured from under the head
to the end of the fastener, while fasteners that sit flush with the surface are
measured from the top of the head to the end of the fastener.

Head Above Surface Countersunk Head Oval Head

Source: boltdepot
There are several different locations on a fastener where one can measure the diameter.
The most commonly used diameters are:

•Thread Diameter (T). Also called major diameter.

•Shank Diameter (S).
•Root Diameter (R). Also called minor diameter.
The fastener diameter is almost always the Thread Diameter (or major diameter).
It is incorrect to refer to hex bolts by the size of the head or by the wrench needed.

Source: boltdepot
Thread Count (TPI)
TPI stands for Threads Per Inch. This is simply a count of the number of threads per inch measured along the
length of a fastener. TPI is used only with American fasteners. Metric Fasteners use a thread Pitch (see
below). In general smaller fasteners have finer threads, so the thread count is higher. For a table of standard
US thread counts please see the US Threads Per Inch Table.

Thread Pitch
Metric fasteners are specified with a thread pitch instead of a thread count. The thread pitch is the distance
between threads expressed in millimeters (measured along the length of the fastener). For example a thread
pitch of 1.5 means that the distance between one thread and the next is 1.5mm. In general smaller fasteners
have finer thread so they have lower thread pitch. For a table of standard metric thread pitches please see
the Metric Thead Pitch Table.

Source: boltdepot
 Always use the correct size of screwdriver!
 If the driver is too large or two small then the
screw head will be damaged.
 Once the head is damage the screw may have
to be replaced.
 If the head is damaged too much then you may
not be able to remove the screw!
 Most screws thread the same way. There is usually a righthanded
thread which means that you turn right (or clockwise) to tighten.
 Almost every screw you will find will work like this. Occasionally
there is a good reason to use an opposite spiral but these are rare.
 ‘Lefty-loosey, righty-tighty’.
 When starting a thread then you should insert the screw and then
slowly turn is backwards until you feel the thread ‘bump’. Then you can
go forward and then the threads should be properly aligned.
 Once the threads are aligned then the screw should turn freely until it
bottoms out and starts to tighten.
 Be very careful not to ‘cross thread’ this will damage the nut (or hole)
threads.
 Source: robertsonscrew

 In 1908, P. L. Robertson began to manufacture a square recess

impression in the head of a screw in Milton, Ontario, Canada. At that
time, it was a revolutionary change in the fastener industry. The first
patent was issued in 1909 and the last patent expired 55 years later
in 1964. For his invention, P.L. Robertson screws and screwdrivers
carry his name to this day.
Source: Pacific Fasteners