This section provides an overview for sprues as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 9 sprue manufacturers and their company rankings.
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A sprew is a part designed to reinforce female threads by coiling a diamond-shaped stainless steel wire around them. Utilizing the spring back effect of the wire significantly enhances the accuracy of screw fastening. By correcting lead and angle errors of the threads, stress is evenly distributed throughout the length of the threaded hole, thus strengthening the connection between the base metal and the screw.
Primarily, sprews are employed to reinforce female threads, especially in materials like light metals, cast iron, and plastics, where the native threads may be weak. The use of sprews to create a rolling female thread of stainless steel equalizes stress distribution, thereby enhancing the fastening force and ensuring a more secure screw attachment.
Sprews also improve the durability of female threads against wear, corrosion, vibration, and heat, protecting the base material and ensuring reliable thread fastening. Furthermore, they are utilized for repairing defective female threads, easily restoring stronger threads than the original ones.
Additionally, sprews contribute to reducing the diameter of male threads and the length of female threads, which results in lighter and more compact products, lowering manufacturing costs and enhancing product quality.
Sprews are particularly effective in reinforcing products made from low-strength materials like aluminum or plastics, preventing thread breakage and enhancing durability. A special tap is used for setting the threads of a sprew, which is characterized by its free outside diameter – the diameter of the sprew before insertion, typically 15% to 20% larger than the insertion diameter.
The structure of a sprew includes the free turns (number of turns in its free state), the first coil (which guides and twists into the tap groove hole), the tongue (the part twisted in with an insertion tool), and a notch (used for folding out the tongue in through-hole applications).
As industrial products evolve to become smaller and lighter, the importance of materials and structures in design and manufacturing increases. Sprews play a vital role in addressing issues like wear, fracture, and galling in weaker or brittle base materials such as light alloys, nonferrous metals, and various plastics, thus preventing common problems in these applications.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Bossard, Inc. is based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA, and is a distributor of fasteners established in 1992 as a part of Switzerland’s Bossard Group. The company stocks fasteners for a wide range of industrial applications, including standard fasteners for construction or transport, structural rivets for weatherproofing and vibration resistance, and clip as well as bracket-type mounts for cable and wire management. The company mainly markets to client OEMs, but also serves customers in the rail, robotics, and automation industries.
Normelemente KG, established in 1958 and based in Markgroningen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, is a German manufacturer and supplier that specializes in standard parts and machine components. Norelem offers an extensive catalog of more than 70,000 products, catering to the needs of engineers and designers in various projects. Their product range includes clamping technology, measuring and testing components, electromechanics, systems and components for machine and plant construction, and material handling and transport solutions. These products find applications in diverse engineering fields, such as automotive, aerospace, machinery, and robotics sectors.
STANLEY Engineered Fastening, founded in 1910 and headquartered in Towson, Maryland, is a manufacturer and distributor of fastening and assembly solutions. The company caters to diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and medical, offering a product range that comprises brackets for supporting structures, critical application fasteners like lockbolts and blind rivets, inserts for reinforcement, screws and bolts for fastening, and various types of hand tools for installation and removal of components. The company has multiple locations strategically positioned near its customers worldwide, including the USA, Germany, and Japan.
E-Z LOK, established in 1956 and based in Gardena, United States of America, is a manufacturer and distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic, and wood. The company manufactures carbon steel inserts, stainless steel inserts, installation tools, and knife thread inserts. It also fabricates hex drive inserts, hex drive drills, sonic installation tools, and ultrasonic inserts. Threaded inserts are used to repair damaged threads and improve the thread strength of the parent material. It is a member of the Pacific-West Fastener Association, Mid-Atlantic Fastener Distributors Association, and TCI Precision Metals.
Howmet Aerospace Inc. is a global supplier of advanced materials, components, and systems for aerospace, industrial, and commercial applications. The company was founded in 1888 through the merger of Alcoa Fastening Systems and Howmet Corporation and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Its products include titanium and nickel-based alloys, forged and machined components, and fastening systems. Howmet Aerospace's products are used in a wide range of applications, including aircraft engines, airframes, landing gear, and industrial gas turbines.
MSC Industrial Supply Co. is based in New York, New York, USA, and is a distributor and supplier of metalworking products as well as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) equipment that was established in 1941 as a subsidiary of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. The company primarily produces holemakers such as reamers and taps, milling equipment such as face mills and indexable inserts, and fixed abrasives such as wheels and belts. It also offers safety equipment such as respirators, reflective signage, and protective eyewear. The company’s products are mainly used in industrial manufacturing operations, with additional applications in construction.
Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 60.0% |
Germany | 1 | 20.0% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 20.0% |