EML2322L Fastener Reference Guide

Introduction Common Fastener Head, Nut, and Washer Types

Fasteners are connective hardware that can easily
Fastener Name Tighten With
be installed and removed with common hand tools.
Bolts, screws, nuts, and rivets are typical examples flat head slotted head
of fasteners. The difference between a bolt, screw, (slotted) screwdriver
and a stud is determined by its use.
pan head Phillips head
(Phillips) screwdriver

wrench, socket
hex head
wrench

button
Allen/hex
head cap
wrench
screw
Allen/hex
Bolts are headed fasteners with external threads set screw
wrench
that meet an exacting, uniform thread specification
such that they can accept a standardized nut. In the Allen/hex
most general sense, screws are headed, externally- socket head
wrench
threaded fasteners that can cut their own internal
threads when installed. In mechanical and aero- shoulder Allen/hex
space design applications (which are what we care screw wrench
about as design engineers), screws are identical to
wrench, socket
bolts, but do not require nuts, as they instead screw stud
wrench
into threaded holes previously created in work-
pieces. Studs are externally threaded headless
fasteners with which one end usually mates with a rivet rivet gun
threated component and the other end typically
mates with a standardized nut. wrench, socket
hex nut
wrench
Purpose wrench, socket
Nyloc nut
wrench
The ONLY purpose of fasteners is to clamp parts
together. Standard fasteners are NOT intended to serrated wrench, socket
be used to for positioning or pivoting; that is the flange nut wrench
function of dowel pins, locating shoulders, and
flat washer -
piloting diameters. However, due to the short-term
nature of prototyping, these uses may be allowed in NORD-LOCK
some situations (like in DML). Be aware that in real -
washer
life such improperly designed joints WILL loosen Belleville
and fail. Furthermore, the threaded portion of a -
disc spring
fastener should NEVER be loaded in shear, as doing split lock
so tremendously reduces the load carrying capacity -
washer
and fatigue resistance of the threaded assembly.
Nuts and Washers Fastener Torque

Most nuts used in this lab are hex nuts or nylon ring When it comes to fasteners, it is important to
elastic stop nuts. Serrated and nylon insert nuts are understand the consequence of over-tightening
designed to resist loosening under vibration. We versus under-tightening fastener joints. Un-
also have an assortment of washers. The two intuitively, it is actually better to over-tighten a
purposes of washers are to ensure a flat bearing bolted joint than to under-tighten it. Proper
surface and to distribute the fastener’s clamping installation torque is what keeps a properly
force over a larger bearing surface. NORD-LOCK designed fastener assembly tight.
and split lock washers are designed to resist
loosening from vibration. Belleville disc spring To calculate desired fastener torque:
washers are used under bolt heads to maintain 𝜎𝑡 = 0.9 × 𝜎𝑦
tension in another attempt at preventing loosening. 𝐹𝑖 = 𝜎𝑡 × 𝐴𝑡
𝑇 = 0.2 × 𝐹𝑖 × 𝑑
Thread Classes & Types
Where 𝜎𝑦 is the ultimate yield strength; At is the
There are two general classes of fasteners: standard tensile stress area; Fi is the desired preload
(i.e. imperial) and metric. Most imperial fastener (installation force); d is the nominal fastener
sizes are stocked in lab for common use, as well as diameter; and T is the measured installation torque
metric fasteners for use with the OTS electric
motors used for the course projects. General Use Guidelines

Regardless of the country of origin, there are two 1. Understand when attaching two parts together
types of threads commonly used by design with fasteners, one must have a clearance hole
engineers: coarse and fine. The differences are the (i.e. both parts cannot be threaded)
thread pitches and minor diameters. Always select 2. Imperial fastener sizes smaller than ¼″ are
the TPI that gives the weaker part of the joint referred to by a numeric designation (i.e. #10,
(material or fastener) the geometric advantage. #6, and #4); and these are very different from
Fine threads are stronger when the female thread is M10, M6, and M4 metric fastener designations
strong relative to the male thread; coarse threads 3. NEVER load fastener threads in shear as this
are stronger when the female thread is weak significantly weakens the strength of the joint
relative to the male thread. There is only always and guarantees premature fastener failure
one correct choice of thread pitch for any given
application. The fastener lecture notes cover this
selection in detail.

Coarse vs. Fine Thread Example

The following image shows two threads of the same
diameter with different thread pitches.

4. Always use double shear joint design over single

shear if possible for improved joint stability

The coarse threaded fastener has a smaller minor

diameter, decreasing tensile strength, and
increasing the shear area of the threads, giving the
strength advantage to the female threads.
General Use Guidelines (continued) Useful Fastener Resources
5. When designing for fasteners use fine threads 1. Introduction to Fasteners
in stronger female materials and coarse threads
2. Drill & Tap Chart
in weaker female materials
6. Fine threaded screws/bolts are stronger than 3. Common Drill Sizes Chart
coarse threaded bolts, and coarse threaded 4. Advanced Fastener Notes
nuts are stronger than fine threaded nuts
7. Always select fasteners, clearance drills, and tap Application Examples (thread notes and BOM)
sizes off of the Tap and Drill Chart since these
1. (4) #10 close fit Ø 0.196″ THRU;
are established industry standards
clearance holes: 4 PLACES
8. Use close-fit clearance holes for applications
requiring higher positional accuracy (i.e. motor 2. (2) ¼″ free fit: Ø0.266″ THRU;
mounting holes in a motor mounting bracket) clearance holes: 2 PLACES
9. Use free-fit clearance holes for applications not 3. (3) 6mm threads thru Ø 5.00 THRU;
requiring higher positional accuracy (i.e. 80/20 an aluminum workpiece: M6x1.0 THRU;
mounting bracket attachment holes) 3 PLACES
10. For ease of manufacturing, it is advantageous to 4. (7) #10 blind threads Ø 0.157″ 0.7 DP;
use thru-bolted holes vs. blind tapped holes 0.5” deep in aluminum: 10-24 UNC 0.50 DP;
when ease of assembly in not a major concern 7 PLACES
11. Allow clearance for the tip of the tap when
5. (3) #10 threads thru Ø 0.170″ THRU;
tapping blind holes; tap drill deeper than the
a steel workpiece: 10-32 UNF THRU;
desired final thread depth by an amount equal
3 PLACES
to the major diameter of the fastener
12. Always allow adequate clearance around 6. BOM fastener descriptions require 3 pieces of
fastener joints for installation tools (wrenches, info (thread spec, fastener length, head type):
sockets, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches)
10-24 x 0.75″ UNC socket head cap screw
13. Always design threaded features with AT LEAST 10-32 x 1.25″ UNF hex head cap screw
5 threads of engagement; better yet, design for M10x1.50 x 20 flat head cap screw
2X the major diameter for full strength (i.e. 0.5″
of useable thread depth for a ¼-20 UNC screw);
if not permissible, use a normal nut or rivet nut
instead to provide proper thread engagement
14. Whenever possible, avoid designing parts
requiring fasteners smaller than #6 (imperial)
and M4 (metric), as doing so requires small,
fragile tap drills and taps which easily break,
especially when working with tougher materials
15. Use dowel pins, feature shoulders, and piloting
diameters to locate parts and resist applying
lateral / transverse shear loads to fasteners
16. Understand that properly computed and
measured installation torque (tensile preload) is
what keeps properly designed fastener
assemblies tight during use, and what allows
them to achieve their calculated service life