Fasteners are a common feature of countless assemblies, allowing for two or more workpieces to be attached together with ease. Depending on the type of assembly, materials, and application, the exact choice of fastener may vary. While many different hardware types exist on the market, four of the most widely used and recognized fasteners are bolts, screws, rivets, and nuts. While some of these may be used together or for similar applications, each has a distinct role and design which should be understood prior to conducting any major work.
Bolts
In general, bolts are a form of
threaded fastener where external, helical threading traces down a portion of a cylindrical shaft. One side of the bolt will have a shaped head, allowing for the fastener to be installed and removed with a matching tool.
Bolts are typically unable to secure components by themselves, instead relying on a mating nut to secure everything from both sides of an assembly. For installation, the tail end of the bolt is first passed through preformed holes situated on a work piece, and the nut is tightened onto the other side.
Screws
While screws feature a similar appearance to bolts with a threaded shaft and a head on one side, the way in which they are used widely differs. Instead of requiring a mating nut to secure components, a screw will generally be able to be used by itself as its threading pulls materials together to prevent pull out. Additionally, screws can often create their own threading in a surface as they are tightened, making it so that a pilot hole is not always necessary.
Screws are like bolts in that they will feature different head designs, and they will often need a tool like a screwdriver to be installed and loosened.
Rivets
Rivets are a form of permanent mechanical fastener, coming in the form of an unthreaded, smooth, and cylindrical shaft where a head is situated on one end. To install a rivet, the tail of the fastener is passed through a preformed hole on a workpiece, and a specialized tool is then used to deform the tail so as to establish a second head.
With the resulting dumbbell shape, the rivet can lock all parts in place with little to no risk of things coming apart.
Rivets are often useful for handling shear loads and tension loads, and their permanent installation method is optimal for assemblies where removal is only necessary for replacement.
Nuts
As the final
common fastener type we will discuss, nuts are hardware components that may vary in shape while featuring a centralized hole with internal threading. Like stated before, nuts are intended to be paired with threaded fasteners like bolts, their internal threading meshing with the external threading of another fastener to keep the two parts together with security. While nuts often can be tightened by hand, any reliable fit will need a suitable tool, the choice depending on the nut’s shape.
Conclusion
Whether you are working with wood and require screws or metallic pieces where a bolt and nut assembly may be best, we at ASAP Sourcing Solutions have everything you may require readily available for purchase on our website at any time. Take the time to explore our current set of offerings as you see fit, and be sure to take advantage of our online RFQ services to request quotes on items of interest that you come across.
With team members working around the clock for your needs, you can expect a tailored response from a member of our staff within 15 minutes of us receiving and reviewing your completed form. If you have any further questions or concerns, please give us a call or email at your earliest convenience!