Designation: F880 − 12

Standard Specification for

Stainless Steel Socket, Square Head, and Slotted Headless-
Set Screws1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F880; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemi-

1.1 This specification covers the requirements for austenitic cal Analysis of Steel Products
grade stainless steel socket-set screws (SSS) sizes 0.060 A967 Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for
through 1.000 in. square head set screws (SHSS) sizes 0.190 Stainless Steel Parts
through 1.500 in., and slotted headless set screws (HSS) 0.060 D3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging
through 0.750 in., in two conditions, AF and CW. E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
terials
1.2 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be F593 Specification for Stainless Steel Bolts, Hex Cap
regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are Screws, and Studs
included in this standard. F788/F788M Specification for Surface Discontinuities of
NOTE 1—A complete metric companion to Specification F880 has been Bolts, Screws, and Studs, Inch and Metric Series
developed—F880M; therefore, no metric equivalents are shown in this F1470 Practice for Fastener Sampling for Specified Me-
specification. chanical Properties and Performance Inspection
1.3 The following hazards caveat pertains only to Test 2.2 ASME Standard:3
Method Section, Section 12 of this specification. This standard B 18.3 Socket Cap, Shoulder and Set Screws, Inch Series
does not purport to address (all of) the safety problems B 18.6.2 Slotted Head Cap Screws, Square Head Set Screws,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this and Slotted Headless Set Screws (Inch Series)
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior 3. Classification
to use.
3.1 The designation of the alloy group and condition for the
2. Referenced Documents two materials and conditions of this specification shall be
consistent with the stainless steel designations in Specification
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 F593.
A262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular
Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels 3.2 The austenitic stainless steel socket set screw shall be
A342/A342M Test Methods for Permeability of Weakly designated F880 Group 1 Condition AF (solution annealed) or
Magnetic Materials F880 Group 1 Condition CW (cold worked).
A380 Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of
Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems 4. Ordering Information
A555/A555M Specification for General Requirements for 4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
Stainless Steel Wire and Wire Rods the following information:
4.1.1 Quantity (number of screws);
4.1.2 Dimensions, including nominal thread designation,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F16 on thread pitch, nominal screw length (inches) and point configu-
Fasteners and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F16.04 on Nonferrous ration. A standard part number may be used for this definition;
Fasteners. 4.1.3 Name of the screw (SSS, SHSS or HSS);
Current edition approved June 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F880 - 02(2008)ε1. 4.1.4 Condition AF/CW;
DOI: 10.1520/F0880-02R08.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 F880 − 12
4.1.5 Surface finish, if required. If a finish other than identified on all certification required in the purchase order and
passivation is required, it must be specified on the order or shall have a chemical composition conforming to the limits
product standard; specified in Table 2.
4.1.6 ASTM specification and year of issue; and 6.3 When chemical analysis is performed by the purchaser
4.1.7 Any special or supplemental requirements. using finished fasteners representing each lot, the chemical
4.1.8 If torque testing is required for socket set screws sizes contents obtained shall conform to the limits specified in Table
over 1⁄2 inch. 2 for the specific alloy. Chemical composition shall conform to
4.2 Example—50 000 pieces 0.250-20 × 0.375 cone point the tolerances specified in Specification A555/A555M.
SSS CW ASTM F880 – XX. 6.3.1 In the event of a discrepancy, a referee analysis of the
samples for each lot as specified in 12.1 shall be made in
5. Materials and Manufacture accordance with 11.3.1.
5.1 The screw may be forged, formed, extruded, machined,
or ground to meet the dimensional characteristics and perfor- 7. Mechanical Properties
mance requirements. 7.1 Socket-set screws, when subjected to a torque test in
5.2 Heat Treatment—Austenitic alloys Group 1 Condition accordance with 12.3.1, shall withstand application of the test
AF screw shall be annealed by heating to 1900 6 50°F to tightening torque specified in Table 1 without evidence of the
obtain maximum corrosion resistance and minimum perme- socket reaming or the screw bursting. Socket set screws in
ability. The screws shall be held for a sufficient time at sizes in nominal diameters over 1⁄2 in. are not subject to torques
temperature, then cooled at a rate sufficient to prevent precipi- testing unless required by purchaser. The test torque values
tation of the carbide and provide the properties in accordance must be supplied by purchaser and agreed to by the supplier.
with Table 1. 7.2 The hardness limits from 70 to 95 HRB (125 to 210
5.3 When condition CW is specified, the austenitic alloys DPH) for Condition AF and 96 HRB to 33 HRC (216 to 327
shall be annealed as specified in 5.2, generally by the raw DPH) for Condition CW shall be met as determined using Test
material manufacturer, and then cold worked to develop Methods E18.
specific properties.
8. Corrosion Resistance Requirements
6. Chemical Composition
8.1 Carbide Precipitation:
6.1 The analysis of the screw material shall conform to the 8.1.1 Rod, bar, and wire in the austenitic alloy groups 1, 2,
chemical composition specified in Table 2. and 3, except the free-machining grades, 303 and 303Se, used
6.2 Unless otherwise specified in the inquiry and purchase to make fasteners in accordance with this specification shall be
order (see Supplementary Requirement S2), the choice of alloy capable of passing the test for susceptibility to intergranular
used shall be that of the fastener manufacturer as determined corrosion as specified in Practice E of Practices A262.
by his fabrication methods and material availability. The 8.1.2 As stated in Practices A262, samples may be subjected
specific alloy used by the manufacturer shall be clearly to the faster and more severe screening test in accordance with

TABLE 1 Socket Set Screw Torsional Strength RequirementsA

Nominal Screw Size Shortest Nominal Screw Lengths Subject to Torque Testing Test Torque, in.-lb, min
Cup and Flat Points, Cone and Oval Points Half Dog Points, in. AF CW
in.
0 0.060 0.109 0.125 0.109 0.3 0.6
1 0.073 0.125 0.141 0.125 0.7 1.2
2 0.086 0.125 0.141 0.141 0.7 1.2
3 0.099 0.141 0.156 0.156 1.6 3.3
4 0.112 0.141 0.172 0.156 1.6 3.3
5 0.125 0.172 0.188 0.172 3 5
6 0.138 0.188 0.203 0.188 3 5
8 0.164 0.188 0.219 0.203 9 16
10 0.190 0.188 0.250 0.234 16 26
1⁄ 4 0.250 0.250 0.312 0.297 40 67
5⁄16 0.312 0.312 0.391 0.359 79 135
3⁄ 8 0.375 0.375 0.438 0.438 138 237
7⁄16 0.437 0.438 0.547 0.484 220 378
1⁄ 2 0.500 0.500 0.609 0.547 358 600
5⁄8 0.625 0.625 0.875 0.875 ... ...
3⁄4 0.750 0.750 1.000 1.000 ... ...
7⁄8 0.875 0.875 1.000 1.000 ... ...
1 1.000 1.100 1.250 1.250 ... ...
A
For socket set screw sizes over 1⁄2 inch, torsional strength testing is not required unless specified by purchaser. The test torque values must be supplied by purchaser
and agreed upon by the supplier.

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 F880 − 12
TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements
Composition, % maximum except as shown
UNS
Alloy Molybdenum
Designation Carbon Manganese Phosphorus Sulfur Silicon Chromium Nickel Copper

Austenitic Alloys
S30300 303 0.15 2.00 0.20 0.15 min 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 8.0 to 10.0 0.60 maxA
S30323 303Se 0.15 2.00 0.20 0.060 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 8.0 to 10.0 Se 0.15 min
S30400 304 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.0 to 20.0 8.0 to 10.5 1.00 ...
S30403 304L 0.030 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.0 to 20.0 8.0 to 12.0 1.00 ...
S30500 305 0.12 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 10.5 to 13.0 1.00 ...
S38400 384 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 15.0 to 17.0 17.0 to 19.0 ...
S20300 XM1 0.08 5.0 to 6.5 0.040 0.18 to 0.35 1.00 16.0 to 18.0 5.0 to 6.5 1.75 to 2.25 0.50 maxA
S30430 18–9LW 0.10 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 8.0 to 10.0 3.0 to 4.0 ...
S30433 302HQ 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 8.0 to 10.0 3.0 to 4.0 ...
S31600 316 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.0 to 18.0 10.0 to 14.01 ... 2.0 to 3.0
S31603 316L 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.03 1.00 16.0 to 18.0 10.0 to 14.01 ... 2.0 to 3.0
A
At the manufacturer’s option, determined only when intentionally added.

Practice A. Failing Practice A, specimens shall be tested to 11.3.1 When the purchaser does not specify the sampling
Practice E and be considered satisfactory if passing Practice E. plan and basis of acceptance, the following shall apply.
11.3.1.1 The lot, for purposes of selecting samples, shall
9. Dimensions consist of all products offered for inspection and testing at one
9.1 Unless otherwise specified, the product shall conform to time, that are of the same style, nominal diameter, thread pitch,
the requirements of ASME B 18.3 or B 18.6.2 as applicable. nominal length, material type, and condition, and surface
finish.
10. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance 11.3.1.2 From each lot, samples shall be selected at random
10.1 Surface Treatment—Unless otherwise specified, screws and tested for each requirement in accordance with the
shall be cleaned, descaled, and passivated in accordance with following:
Practice A380 or Specification A967 at the option of the Number of
manufacturer. Number of Pieces in Lot Samples

10.2 Surface Discontinuities: 800 and less 1

10.2.1 The surface discontinuities for these products shall Over 800 to 8000, incl 2
Over 8000 to 22 000, incl 3
conform to Specification F788/F788M and the additional Over 22 000 5
limitations specified herein. 11.3.1.3 Should any sample fail to meet the requirements of
10.2.1.1 Processing cracks that connect the socket to the a specified test, double the number of samples from the same
periphery of the screw are not permissible. Defects originating lot shall be retested for the requirement(s) in which it failed.
on the periphery with a traverse indicating a potential to All of the additional samples shall conform to the specification
intersect are not permissible. For peripheral discontinuities, the or the lot shall be rejected.
maximum depth may be 0.06 D. 11.3.1.4 If the failure of a test specimen is due to improper
11. Number of Tests preparation of the specimen or an incorrect testing technique,
the specimen shall be discarded and another test specimen
11.1 The requirements of this specification shall be met in submitted.
continuous mass production for stock and the manufacturer
shall make sample inspections to ensure that the product 11.4 Corrosion Resistance Tests:
conforms to the specified requirements. Additional tests of 11.4.1 Unless otherwise specified, inspection for corrosion
individual shipments of fasteners are not ordinarily necessary. resistance shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s
A record of the individual heat of steel in each lot shall be standard quality control practices. No specific method of
maintained. The containers shall be coded to permit identifi- inspection is required but the screws shall be produced from
cation of the lot. suitable raw material and manufactured by properly controlled
practices to maintain resistance to corrosion. When corrosion
11.2 When specified in the purchase order, the manufacturer tests are required, Supplementary Requirement S4 must be
shall furnish a test report of the last complete set of chemical specified in the inquiry and order except as noted in 11.4.2.
analysis and mechanical tests for each stock size in each 11.4.2 Products that have been hot worked shall be solution
shipment. annealed and tested to determine freedom from precipitated
11.3 When tests of individual shipments are required, carbides. Not less than one corrosion test shall be made from
Supplementary Requirement S1 must be specified in the each lot. Corrosion tests shall be performed in accordance with
inquiry and order. Practices A262, Practices A or E as applicable.

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 F880 − 12
12. Test Methods 13.2 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have
12.1 Chemical Analysis—The chemical composition shall free entry to all parts of the manufacturer’s works that concern
be determined in accordance with Test Methods, Practices, and the manufacture of the material ordered. The manufacturer
Terminology A751. shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities to satisfy that
the material is being furnished in accordance with this speci-
12.2 The fastener manufacturer may accept the chemical fication. All tests and inspection required by the specification
analysis of each heat of raw material purchased and reported on that are requested by the purchaser’s representative and pur-
the raw material certification furnished by the raw material chase order shall be made prior to shipment and shall be so
producer. The fastener manufacturer is not required to do any conducted as not to interfere unnecessarily with the operation
further chemical analysis testing, provided that precise heat lot of the work.
traceability has been maintained throughout the manufacturing
process on each lot of fasteners produced and delivered. 14. Rejection and Rehearing
12.3 Mechanical Tests: 14.1 Screws that fail to conform to the requirements of this
12.3.1 For socket strength torque test, the test screw shall be specification may be rejected by the purchaser. Rejection shall
assembled into a tapped hole of 5H tolerance class in a steel be reported to the supplier promptly and in writing. In case of
block (Fig. 1) until the face of the screw is flush with the top dissatisfaction with the results of tests or inspection authorized
surface of the test block and the set screw bears against a firm by the purchaser, the supplier may make claim for a rehearing.
base, such as a hardened screw installed from the opposite side
15. Certification
of the block. The applicable hexagon key bit, in accordance
with ASME B 18.3, shall be inserted to the full depth of the set 15.1 Test Report— The manufacturer shall maintain on file
screw socket and the test torque listed in Table 1 applied by for a period of 5 years, the original test report, including a copy
means of a torque wrench. The screw shall be disassembled of the certified chemical analysis of the heat of material used
from the block and examined for compliance to the require- and the results of the required testing for the lot of fasteners.
ments of 6.1. 15.2 Manufacturer’s Certificate of Conformance—The
12.4 Corrosion Resistance—When specified on the pur- manufacturer shall maintain on file for a period of 5 years, a
chase order or inquiry, corrosion tests to determine freedom certificate indicating that the lot of fasteners was manufactured
from precipitated carbides shall be performed in accordance and tested in accordance with this specification and conforms
with Practices A262, Practice A or E as applicable. to all specified requirements.
15.3 When requested by the purchaser, submission of copies
13. Inspection
of the test report, manufacturer’s certificate or an extension of
13.1 If the inspection described in 13.2 is required by the the 5 year document retention period shall be performed as
purchaser, it shall be specified in the inquiry, order, or contract. agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time
of the inquiry or order.
16. Packaging and Package Marking
16.1 Packaging:
16.1.1 The manufacturer shall employ such methods of
packaging the screws as may be reasonably required to ensure
their receipt by the purchaser in a satisfactory condition.
Unless otherwise specified packaging shall be in accordance
with Practice D3951.
16.1.2 When special packaging requirements are required
by the purchaser, they shall be defined at the time of inquiry
and order.
16.2 Package Marking—Each shipping unit shall include or
be plainly marked with the following:
16.2.1 ASTM specification,
16.2.2 Alloy condition,
16.2.3 Alloy number,
16.2.4 Size,
16.2.5 Name and brand or trademark of the manufacturer,
16.2.6 Country of origin,
16.2.7 Number of pieces, and
FIG. 1 Typical Torque Test Fixture 16.2.8 Purchase order number.

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 F880 − 12
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the
purchaser in the inquiry and order (see 4.1.7). Supplementary requirements shall in no way negate any
requirement of the specification itself.

S1. Shipment Lot Testing Methods A342/A342M. Screws in Condition CW may not be
S1.1 When Supplementary Requirement S1 is specified on capable of meeting permeability and hardness requirements
the order, the manufacturer shall make sample tests on the simultaneously.
individual lots for shipment to ensure that the product con-
forms to the specified requirements. S4. Corrosion Resistance Tests
S1.2 The manufacturer shall make an analysis of a ran- S4.1 When Supplementary Requirement S4 is specified on
domly selected finished fastener from each lot of product to be the inquiry and order, corrosion test(s) shall be performed as
shipped. Heat or lot control shall be maintained. The analysis agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time
of the starting material from which the fasteners have been of the inquiry or order.
manufactured may be reported in place of the product analysis.
S1.3 The manufacturer shall perform mechanical property S5. Passivation
tests in accordance with this specification and Guide F1470 on
the individual lots for shipment. S5.1 When Supplementary Requirement S5 is specified on
S1.4 The manufacturer shall furnish a test report for each lot the inquiry and order, the finished product shall be passivated
in the shipment showing the actual results of the chemical in accordance with Specification A380.
analysis and mechanical property tests performed in accor-
dance with Supplementary Requirement S1. S6. Alloy 316 Control

S2. Alloy Control S6.1 When Supplementary Requirement S6 is specified

Carbon shall not be less than 0.03. Alloy 316L shall not be
S2.1 When Supplementary Requirement S2 is specified on substituted for Alloy 316 due to its unacceptability in elevated
the inquiry and order, the manufacturer shall supply that temperatures.
stainless steel specified on the customer’s order with no group
substitutions permitted without written permission by the S7. Prohibition of Free Machining CRES Alloys 303 and
purchaser. 303Se
S3. Permeability S7.1 When S7 is invoked, Free Machining CRES Alloys
S3.1 When Supplementary Requirement S3 is specified on 303 and 303Se shall not be supplied, due to their unsuitability
the inquiry and order, the permeability of screws of Condition in preventing corrosion when occasionally wetted by seawater
AF shall not exceed 1.05 at 100 Oe when determined by Test or in a salt environment.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee F16 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(F880—02(Reapproved 2008)) that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Added square head and slotted headless drives; revised

scope to incorporate proposed revisions; added reference to B
18.6.2; revised sections 4.1.3, 4.1.8, 9.1, Table 2 and Table 1,
and added Supplementary Requirements S6 and S7.

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 F880 − 12
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