Development history of self-tapping screws

Jun 09,2022 / BY DEVELOPERS

1. Ordinary self-tapping screws (thread forming self-tapping screws)

Ordinary self-tapping screws are a direct product of early sheet metal screws. The principle is: when screwing it into a prefabricated hole, the internal thread connected to the screw is formed by the displacement of the material around the hole and the material is pushed into the space between the threads.

2. Self-cutting self-tapping screws (thread cutting self-tapping screws)

Because the thread forming of ordinary self-tapping screws is only quite thin. And it can be easily realized on materials with good toughness. Develop and expand the use of self-tapping screws to thicker sections and harder, brittle and other materials with poor deformability. In this way, the self-cutting self-tapping screw is developed: a cutting groove or cutting edge is machined at the end of the screw shank. When this kind of screw is screwed into the prefabricated hole, the screw acts as a tap and actually cuts out the thread that connects with itself.

3. Self-extrusion self-tapping screws (thread rolling self-tapping screws)

In the early 1950s, fastener engineers began to recognize the potential advantages of self-tapping screws as "structural" rather than just lightly loaded attachments. This has led to the development of a new self-tapping screw thread rolling self-tapping screw (self-extrusion self-tapping screw). According to the design principle of cold forging taps, the thread and end are specially designed for this kind of screw, so that the screw can be formed by applying intermittent and periodic pressure on the crest of its thread instead of on the side of the entire thread. Internal thread for connection. By concentrating and limiting the forming pressure, the pressurized material next to the hole is made to flow more easily and to better fill (squeeze) into the flanks and roots of the thread of the self-tapping screw. Since the frictional resistance of screwing in is much lower than that of ordinary self-tapping screws, threaded rolling self-tapping screws (self-extrusion self-tapping screws) can be screwed into thicker sections. At the same time, it has better screw control and tightening torque, and greatly improves the connection strength and overall firmness. The engineering standard of this kind of self-tapping screw stipulates that the selection of materials, the mechanical properties of heat treatment and the working performance should be strictly controlled.

4. Self-drilling self-tapping screws (self-drilling screws)

People have done statistics: Among the ten expenses that constitute the total assembly cost, the highest one includes the processing of holes. In practical applications of self-tapping screws, prefabricated holes need to be processed. Moreover, in order to make the prefabricated holes have good effect in practical application, the size of these holes must be controlled within a fairly strict range. In the early 1960s, self-drilling and self-tapping screws appeared. A major step forward in reducing assembly costs by eliminating the need to machine prefabricated holes. In general, self-drilling and self-tapping screws realize drilling, tapping and tightening in one operation.

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