This section provides an overview for set screws as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 set screw manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
A set screw is a screw that is secured by pressing the tip of the screw against the mating material. The head of the screw does not have a seat, and only the threaded part is visible. A set screw generally has a hexagonal hole, and a hexagonal wrench or L-wrench is used to turn the set screw. Some set screws also have a mortise (minus groove) in addition to the hexagonal hole.
Set screws are also called "potato screws," "hollow set screw," "hexagon socket set screw," etc.
Set screws are used to fasten gears, pulleys, and other parts to a shaft. For example, pulleys are attached to the output shaft of a motor, and gears are attached to the drive shaft. In most cases, a clearance tolerance is used for the fit between the shaft and the hole. The gap between the shaft and the hole is pressed to one side by the set screws. Therefore, care must be taken when using set screws to mount parts that require high precision and coaxiality.
Set screws are also used for adjustment purposes. For example, in combination with a compression coil spring, set screws are used to compress the spring and adjust the strength of the spring, or to turn set screws and push a part to fine-tune the position of the part.
The advantages of using set screws are that they are easy to install, space-saving, economical, and the screws do not protrude outside the part. There are several types of set screws tips, which are used for different purposes and applications.
Recessed set screws are the most commonly used and most common tip shape. The tip is indented in the shape of a crater and is held in place by the circumference of the mating material. For example, when fixing a pulley to a shaft, the tip of the screw bites into the shaft and deforms the shaft surface, making it impossible to remove the pulley from the shaft. If the pulley is to be removed from the shaft, the set screws should be stepped or D-cut on the shaft.
Flat-tip set screws can be used repeatedly because they have a flat tip and are less likely to damage the mating material.
Double-point set screws have the same shape as the dimpled tip, but the dimpled portion has a protrusion that securely bites into the mounting shaft and has a strong anti-looseness function.
The Togari tip is set screws with 90° or 120° conical tip and, as the name implies, is pointed. The mating material is counterbored so that it can be screwed in deeply. It is possible to position the set screws.
The bar tip is a shaft shape with the end of the set screws thinner than the screw diameter, and the tip is flat. The shaft shape can be used for positioning and rotation stop applications, or to fix set screws at the bottom of the groove on the shaft with a groove.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
KD Fasteners, Inc. was founded in 1987 and headquartered in Addison, Illinois. The company is a fastener manufacturer and distributor, specializing in custom fasteners from such materials as steel, brass, silicon bronze, and other non-ferrous metals, supplying over 100,000 different fastener components. The company has 3 product segments: standard fasteners, standard metric fasteners, and custom fasteners. Custom fastener varieties include studs, washers, machine screws, flange bolts, and many other varieties. The company also offers many plating varieties including zinc, black oxide, waxing, and Magni 565 and 560.
Associated Fastening Products, Inc. (AFP) was established in the early 1990s in Itasca, Illinois. AFP is a manufacturer and distributor of both standard and special fasteners for all uses, with many customers in the agriculture and gun manufacturing industries. Some of AFP’s product and service offerings include automatic screw machining, CNC services, brass fittings, standard fasteners, CNC machining, laser and waterjet cutting services, custom cold headed fasteners, metal stamping services, standard and special washers, cable ties, hardware kits and bagging, Swiss screw machining, inventory management, large diameter bolts, security fasteners, and wire form products.
Arlington Fastener Company was founded in 1969 and is located in Barrington, Illinois near Chicago. The company is a supplier of quality fasteners and through its subsidiary Tuttle Manufacturing, is also a manufacturer of custom fasteners. The company’s offerings include machine screws, sheet metal screws, threaded rods, and thread-forming screws. The company offers over 40,000 unique items in stock including domestic and import fasteners, standard and special. Designs not held in stock can generally be custom manufactured.
Chicago Nut & Bolt is based in East Dundee, Illinois, and is a manufacturer of standard and custom fastener products for industries such as agriculture equipment, military, marine, railroad, and construction equipment. Chicago Nut & Bolt’s custom services include fastener engineering & prototyping, warehousing, rush work, and custom fasteners and bolts. Examples of custom fasteners and bolts in action are the Las Vegas City Center, Golden Gate Bridge refurbishing, Biosphere 2, and the “Son of Beast” roller coaster at King’s Island in Mason, Ohio.
OneMonroe was founded in the 1920s and is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. OneMonroe is an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified global industrial manufacturing company serving several types of customers including manufacturers, distributors and catalog-houses across several vertical markets including aerospace/defense, automotive, medical, and transportation. Product lines include adjustable handles, bearings, casters, gaskets, hydraulic clamping, military spec hinges, molded rubber, piano hinges, pins, pull handles, quick release pins, seals, springs, toggle clamps, and various harnesses. Custom manufacturing is also available to meet specific customer needs.
G-Fast has its roots back to 1989 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. G-Fast is a distributor and custom manufacturer of machine tools and equipment. Product offerings include bolts, screws, nuts, rivets, washers, pins, springs, wireforms, retaining rings, clamps, clips, pins, handles, electronic access tools, hinges, knobs, latches, panel fasteners, quick release pins, and wire management. Parts are available across several standards and materials. G-Fast’s services include custom specialized bolts, screws, and nuts, contract manufacturing, CNC machining, and cold heading.
Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History