Designation: F912 – 11

Standard Specification for

Alloy Steel Socket Set Screws1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F912; 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 Department of Defense.

1. Scope* Washers, Direct Tension Indicators, and Rivets

1.1 This specification covers the requirements for quenched F788/F788M Specification for Surface Discontinuities of
and tempered alloy steel socket-set screws (SSS) in nominal Bolts, Screws, and Studs, Inch and Metric Series
diameters 0.060 through 2 in. having hardnesses 45 to 53 HRC. F1470 Practice for Fastener Sampling for Specified Me-
1.2 These set screws are intended for compression applica- chanical Properties and Performance Inspection
tions only and are not customarily subjected to embrittlement F2328 Test Method for Determining Decarburization and
tests. For tensile applications, consult with the manufacturer Carburization in Hardened and Tempered Threaded Steel
for proper alloy and hardness. Bolts, Screws and Studs
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 2.2 ASME Standards:3
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this B18.3 Socket Cap, Shoulder and Set Screw, Inch Series4
standard. B18.24 Part Identifying Number (PIN) Code System Stan-
dard for B18 Fastener Products
NOTE 1—A complete metric companion to Specification F912 has been
developed—F912M; therefore, no metric equivalents are shown in this 3. Ordering Information
Specification.
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
1.4 The hazard statement pertains only to the test method the following information:
section, Section 11 of this specification. This standard does not 3.1.1 Quantity (number of screws).
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated 3.1.2 Dimensions, including nominal thread designation,
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard threads per inch, nominal screw length (inches) and point
to establish appropriate safety and health practices and configuration. A standard part number may be used for this
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to definition.
use. 3.1.3 Name of the screw (SSS).
3.1.4 Coating, if required. See 4.4.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.5 Certification, if required. See 14.1.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 3.1.6 ASTM designation and year of issue.
A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemi- 3.1.7 Any special or supplemental requirements.
cal Analysis of Steel Products 3.1.8 For establishment of a part identifying system, see
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens ASME B18.24.
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
E384 Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of 4. Materials and Manufacture
Materials 4.1 The screws shall be fabricated from alloy steel made to
F606 Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Prop- fine grain practice. In the event of controversy over grain size,
erties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners, referee tests on finished screws conducted in accordance with
Test Methods E112 shall prevail.
1 4.2 The screws may be forged, formed, extruded, machined,
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F16 on
Fasteners and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F16.02 on Steel Bolts, or ground to meet the dimensional characteristics and perfor-
Nuts, Rivets and Washers. mance requirements.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2011. Published November 2011. Originally
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F912 – 04 ´1. DOI:
3
10.1520/F0912-11. Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or International Headquarters, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM www.asme.org.
4
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.

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 F912 – 11
4.3 Set screws shall be heat treated by quenching in oil from 7.1.2 The depth of partial decarburization shall be limited to
above the transformation temperature and then tempered by the values in Test Method F2328 (Class 3 Product) when
reheating to meet the hardness range specified in 6.2. measured as described therein.
4.4 Standard Finishes—Unless otherwise specified, the
screws shall be furnished with one of the following standard 8. Dimensions
surfaces as manufactured, at the option of the manufacturer; (1) 8.1 Unless otherwise specified, the product shall conform to
bright uncoated; (2) thermal black oxide; or (3) chemical black the requirements of ASME B 18.3.
oxide. Hydrogen embrittlement tests shall not be required for
screws furnished in these conditions. 9. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
4.5 Protective Coatings: 9.1 Surface Discontinuities:
4.5.1 When a protective finish other than as specified in 4.4 9.1.1 The surface discontinuities for these products shall
is required, it shall be specified on the purchase order with the conform to Specification F788/F788M and the additional
applicable finish specification. limitations specified herein.
4.5.2 When protective or decorative coatings are applied to 9.1.2 Processing defects that connect the socket to the
the screws, precautions specified by the coating requirements periphery of the screw are not permissible. Defects originating
to minimize embrittlement shall be exercised. on the periphery and with a traverse indicating a potential to
intersect are not permissible.
5. Chemical Composition 9.1.3 Quench cracks of any depth, any length, or in any
5.1 The chemical composition of the screw material shall location are not permitted.
conform to the heat analysis specified in Table 1.
5.2 One or more of the following alloying elements: chro- 10. Number of Tests
mium, nickel, molybdenum, or vanadium shall be present in 10.1 Practice F1470 shall be used to determine the neces-
the steel in sufficient quantity to assure the specific strength sary sampling plan and the number of tests that must be
properties are met after oil quenching and tempering. The steel performed to demonstrate all the requirements of this specifi-
shall meet the AISI definition of alloy steel, that is, maximum cation are met for each lot.
and minimum element content requirement or minimum ele-
ment limits specified. 11. Test Methods
5.3 Alloy steel to which bismuth, selenium, tellurium, or 11.1 Chemical analysis shall be conducted in accordance
lead has been intentionally added to improve machinability with Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751.
shall be permitted. 11.2 For socket strength torque test, the test screw shall be
5.4 Material analysis may be made by the purchaser from assembled into a tapped hole of 2B tolerance class in a steel
finished products and the chemical composition shall conform block (see Fig. 1) until the face of the screw is flush with the
to the requirements specified for the product analysis in Table top surface of the test block and the set screw bears against a
1. firm base, such as a hardened screw installed from the opposite
side of the block. The applicable hexagon key bit in accordance
6. Mechanical Properties with ASME B 18.3 shall be inserted to the full depth of the set
6.1 Socket set screws when subjected to a torque test in screw socket and the test torque listed in Table 2 applied by
accordance with 11.2 shall withstand application of the test means of a torque wrench. The screw shall be disassembled
tightening torque specified in Table 2 without evidence of the from the block and examined for compliance to the require-
socket reaming or the screw bursting. ments of 6.1.
6.2 Socket set screws shall have a hardness of 45 to 53 11.3 Hardness shall be determined in accordance with Test
HRC. The hardness limits shall apply throughout the screw Methods F606.
from core to surface. 11.4 Decarburization and carburization tests shall be con-
ducted in accordance with Test Method F2328, Class 3.
7. Other Requirements 11.4.1 Screw threads greater than 48 threads per in., evalu-
7.1 Decarburization: ation by the optical method as described Test Method F2328
7.1.1 There shall be no evidence of gross decarburization of shall determine conformance to specification requirements.
the surfaces of the heat-treated screws when measured in
12. Inspection
accordance with 11.4.
12.1 The inspector representing the purchaser, upon reason-
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
able notice, shall have free entry to all parts of the manufac-
turer’s works that concern the manufacture of the material
NOTE 1—Plus alloys in accordance with 5.2. ordered. The manufacturer shall afford the inspector all rea-
sonable facilities to satisfy him that the material is being
Composition, %
Element furnished in accordance with this specification. All tests and
Heat Analysis Product Analysis
inspections required by the specification that are requested by
Carbon 0.30 to 0.48 0.28 to 0.50 the purchaser’s representative shall be made before shipment,
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.040
Sulfur, max 0.040 0.045 and shall be so conducted as not to interfere unnecessarily with
the operation of the works.

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 F912 – 11
TABLE 2 Torsional Strength Requirements

Shortest Nominal Screw Lengths Subject to Torque Testing for Test Torque
Nominal
Size Cup and Flat Cone and Half Dog
in.-lb, min
Points Oval Points Points
0 0.060 0.109 0.125 0.109 1.1
1 0.073 0.125 0.141 0.125 2.1
2 0.086 0.125 0.141 0.141 2.1
3 0.099 0.141 0.156 0.156 6.0
4 0.112 0.141 0.172 0.156 6.0
5 0.125 0.156 0.188 0.172 11
6 0.138 0.172 0.203 0.188 11
8 0.164 0.188 0.219 0.203 23
10 0.190 0.188 0.250 0.234 40
1⁄ 4 0.250 0.250 0.312 0.297 94
5⁄16 0.312 0.312 0.391 0.359 183
3⁄ 8 0.375 0.375 0.438 0.438 317
7⁄16 0.437 0.438 0.547 0.484 502
1⁄ 2 0.500 0.500 0.609 0.547 750
5⁄ 8 0.625 0.625 0.766 0.672 1460
3⁄ 4 0.750 0.750 0.906 0.797 2520
7⁄ 8 0.875 0.875 1.125 0.984 5750
1 1.000 1.000 1.266 1.125 8000
1 1 ⁄8 1.125 1.125 1.391 1.188 8000
1 1 ⁄4 1.250 1.250 1.500 1.312 11 000
1 3 ⁄8 1.375 1.375 1.656 1.438 11 000
1 1 ⁄2 1.500 1.500 1.797 1.562 18 100
1 3 ⁄4 1.750 1.750 2.219 1.953 38 000
2 2.000 2.000 2.391 2.078 38 000

14.2 When a test report is specified, it shall include the heat

number and the results of chemical composition, mechanical
properties, metallurgical requirements, and workmanship re-
quirements.
14.3 When a certificate of conformance is specified, it shall
include a statement certifying the fasteners have been manu-
factured, tested, and inspected, and that they conform or do not
conform to the requirements of this specification.
15. Responsibility
15.1 The party responsible for the fastener shall be the
organization that supplies the fastener to the purchaser.
16. Packaging and Package Marking
16.1 Packaging:
16.1.1 Unless otherwise specified, packaging shall be in
accordance with the manufacturers practice to prevent damage
before and during shipment.
16.1.2 When special packaging requirements are required,
they shall be defined at the time of the inquiry and order.
16.2 Package Marking:
FIG. 1 Typical Torque Test Fixture 16.2.1 Each shipping unit shall include or be plainly marked
with the following information:
13. Rejection and Rehearing 16.2.1.1 ASTM designation,
16.2.1.2 Size,
13.1 The disposition of nonconforming lots shall be in 16.2.1.3 Name and brand or trademark of the manufacturer,
accordance with Practice F1470. 16.2.1.4 Number of pieces,
16.2.1.5 Purchase order number (when specified in the
14. Certification
order), and
14.1 Upon request of the purchaser in the contract or order, 16.2.1.6 Country of origin.
the manufacturer or supplier, as applicable, shall furnish a test
report or certificate of conformance as specified by the pur- 17. Keywords
chaser. 17.1 alloy; set; socket; steel

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 F912 – 11
SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee F16 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (F912–04´1)
that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Revised- Section 1, Scope, to clarify “nominal” diameter ferred to F2328) and added F2328 to 2.1.
and remove .000 from 2 in. size. (7) Revised 11.4.1.
(2) Revised-sections 2.1 and 5.4, to clean up grammar and (8) Removed sections 11.4.2 to 11.4.4.2.
correct names of standards. Removed section 3.1.5 (lot testing (9) Section 13, revised to refer to F1470 and added F1470 to
is now always required and not an option). 2.1.
(3) Revised section 7.1.2. (10) Revised section 14.1; added sections 14.2 and 14.3.
(4) Complete revision of Section 10 (referred to F1470). (11) Revised section 16.1.1 and 16.2.1.5.
(5) Revised section 11.3 to Test Methods F606 and added Test (12) Removed existing Figure 1 and Table 3.
Methods F606 to 2.1. (13) Renumbered existing Figure 2 to Figure 1.
(6) Revised section 11.4 decarburization test methods (re- (14) Renumbered figure in section 11.2.

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