Slotted Machine Screws

Slotted machine screws are crucial to all kinds of applications that require machine parts to be securely fastened together. By choosing slotted machine screws, you are getting some of the most reliable screws on the market. Their small size means they can be used on a wide variety of materials and surfaces, and their slotted design offers increased driving power for the tight connections you need.

The slotted machine screws available through FMW Fasteners are all zinc-plated, which means they also provide enhanced corrosion resistance.

What Is a Machine Screw?

A machine screw is used to hold parts together in many different types of machines, such as engines, electronics and appliances. Machine screws are unique for their small size. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a machine screw may have a diameter of up to 0.75 inches or less.

They are also distinct for their uniform threading, which means the threads that run the length of the shaft are all the same diameter. This is different from tapered screws, which have threads that decrease in diameter, as well as a pointed tip.

Machine screws that are slotted have the traditional slot that runs horizontally through the middle of the head and is intended for use with a flat blade screwdriver bit.

What Are the Advantages of Using a Machine Screw?

One of the main advantages of machine screws is their versatility. They can be used for a vast array of applications because of their small size, and they are made from a variety of materials.

Stainless steel machine screws are very popular, as they offer strength, durability and protection against rust. Aluminum machine screws are an ideal choice if you're working with a delicate application where weight is a concern, and lighter materials are preferred.

Because machine screws are used to hold heavy-duty machine parts together, they are also designed to be much stronger than your average screws.

How to Use a Machine Screw

Machine screws are designed to be threaded through a pre-existing, tapped hole, usually with a nut. This is unlike self-drilling screws that create the hole as it is driven into the material. Driving the machine screw through a pre-existing hole means that you will likely end up with a stronger joint for higher production quality.

Machine screws can be used to:

- Secure multiple components with through holes and a nut behind the components.
- Pass through multiple components with threading in the rearmost component.
- Separate two boards or plates to the length of a threaded coupling.
- Fasten devices with gaskets.
- Thread into PEM brand fasteners, which are threaded metallic inserts cast into plastic parts.