Cold Formed Socket Set Screws | Set Screws

Cold-formed Socket Set Screws

Cold-formed socket set screws are specialized fasteners designed for secure, adjustable connections in various mechanical and structural applications. Manufactured using a cold-forming process, these screws are shaped at room temperature, enhancing their material strength and dimensional precision. Made from materials such as alloy steel or stainless steel, cold-formed socket set screws are commonly employed in industries like automotive, aerospace, and machinery manufacturing, where reliability and precision are essential. Nickel Systems offers a wide range of cold formed socket set screws in materials such as 410 stainless steel, Alloy 20, Brass or other alloy steel. We also stock various points including cup point, flat point, dog point, & knurled point set screws. Ask us about our domestic, cold forming, ASME 18.3-2012 cold formed inventory.


Nominal Size (Basic Screw Diameter)	J	T	C
Nominal Hexagon Socket Size	Minimum Key Engagement	Cup and Flat Point Diameters
Hex Socket, T_H	Max	Min
5	(0.1250)	1/16	0.062	0.080	0.067	0.057
6	(0.1380)	1/16	0.062	0.080	0.074	0.064
8	(0.1640)	5/64	0.078	0.090	0.087	0.076
10	(0.1900)	3/32	0.094	0.100	0.102	0.088
1/4	(0.2500)	1/8	0.125	0.125	0.132	0.118
5/16	(0.3125)	5/32	0.156	0.156	0.172	0.156
3/8	(0.3750)	3/16	0.188	0.188	0.212	0.194
7/16	(0.4375)	7/32	0.219	0.219	0.252	0.232
1/2	(0.5000)	1/4	0.250	0.250	0.291	0.270
5/8	(0.6250)	5/16	0.312	0.312	0.371	0.347
3/4	(0.7500)	3/8	0.375	0.375	0.450	0.425
7/8	(0.8750)	1/2	0.500	0.500	0.530	0.502
1	(1.0000)	9/16	0.562	0.562	0.609	0.579
1-1/8	(1.1250)	9/16	0.562	0.562	0.689	0.655
1-1/4	(1.2500)	5/8	0.625	0.625	0.767	0.733
1-3/8	(1.3750)	5/8	0.625	0.625	0.848	0.808
1-1/2	(1.5000)	3/4	0.750	0.750	0.926	0.886
1-3/4	(1.7500)	1	1.000	1.000	1.086	1.039
2	(2.000)	1	1.000	1.000	1.244	1.193

Nominal Size (Basic Screw Diameter)

Nominal Hexagon Socket Size

Minimum Key Engagement

Cup and Flat Point Diameters

Hex Socket, T_H

Max

Min

(0.1250)

1/16

0.062

0.080

0.067

0.057

(0.1380)

1/16

0.062

0.080

0.074

0.064

(0.1640)

5/64

0.078

0.090

0.087

0.076

(0.1900)

3/32

0.094

0.100

0.102

0.088

1/4

(0.2500)

1/8

0.125

0.132

0.118

5/16

(0.3125)

5/32

0.156

0.172

0.156

3/8

(0.3750)

3/16

0.188

0.212

0.194

7/16

(0.4375)

7/32

0.219

0.252

0.232

1/2

(0.5000)

1/4

0.250

0.291

0.270

5/8

(0.6250)

5/16

0.312

0.371

0.347

3/4

(0.7500)

3/8

0.375

0.450

0.425

7/8

(0.8750)

1/2

0.500

0.530

0.502

(1.0000)

9/16

0.562

0.609

0.579

1-1/8

(1.1250)

9/16

0.562

0.689

0.655

1-1/4

(1.2500)

5/8

0.625

0.767

0.733

1-3/8

(1.3750)

5/8

0.625

0.848

0.808

1-1/2

(1.5000)

3/4

0.750

0.926

0.886

1-3/4

(1.7500)

1.000

1.086

1.039

(2.000)

1.000

1.244

1.193


Nominal Size (Basic Screw Diameter)	J	T	P	Q
Nominal Hexagon Socket Size	Minimum Key Engagement	Diameter	Length
Hex Socket, T_H	Max	Min	Max	Min
5	(0.1250)	1/16	0.062	0.080	0.083	0.078	0.033	0.027
6	(0.1380)	1/16	0.062	0.080	0.092	0.087	0.038	0.032
8	(0.1640)	5/64	0.078	0.090	0.109	0.103	0.043	0.037
10	(0.1900)	3/32	0.094	0.100	0.127	0.120	0.049	0.041
1/4	(0.2500)	1/8	0.125	0.125	0.156	0.149	0.067	0.059
5/16	(0.3125)	5/32	0.156	0.156	0.203	0.195	0.082	0.074
3/8	(0.3750)	3/16	0.188	0.188	0.250	0.241	0.099	0.089
7/16	(0.4375)	7/32	0.219	0.219	0.297	0.287	0.114	0.104
1/2	(0.5000)	1/4	0.250	0.250	0.344	0.334	0.130	0.120
5/8	(0.6250)	5/16	0.312	0.312	0.469	0.456	0.164	0.148
3/4	(0.7500)	3/8	0.375	0.375	0.562	0.549	0.196	0.180
7/8	(0.8750)	1/2	0.500	0.500	0.656	0.642	0.227	0.211
1	(1.0000)	9/16	0.562	0.562	0.750	0.734	0.260	0.240
1-1/8	(1.1250)	9/16	0.562	0.562	0.844	0.826	0.291	0.271
1-1/4	(1.2500)	5/8	0.625	0.625	0.938	0.920	0.323	0.303
1-3/8	(1.3750)	5/8	0.625	0.625	1.031	1.011	0.354	0.334
1-1/2	(1.5000)	3/4	0.750	0.750	1.125	1.105	0.385	0.365
1-3/4	(1.7500)	1	1.000	1.000	1.312	1.289	0.448	0.428
2	(2.000)	1	1.000	1.000	1.500	1.474	0.510	0.490

Nominal Size (Basic Screw Diameter)

Nominal Hexagon Socket Size

Minimum Key Engagement

Diameter

Length

Hex Socket, T_H

Max

Min

Max

Min

(0.1250)

1/16

0.062

0.080

0.083

0.078

0.033

0.027

(0.1380)

1/16

0.062

0.080

0.092

0.087

0.038

0.032

(0.1640)

5/64

0.078

0.090

0.109

0.103

0.043

0.037

(0.1900)

3/32

0.094

0.100

0.127

0.120

0.049

0.041

1/4

(0.2500)

1/8

0.125

0.156

0.149

0.067

0.059

5/16

(0.3125)

5/32

0.156

0.203

0.195

0.082

0.074

3/8

(0.3750)

3/16

0.188

0.250

0.241

0.099

0.089

7/16

(0.4375)

7/32

0.219

0.297

0.287

0.114

0.104

1/2

(0.5000)

1/4

0.250

0.344

0.334

0.130

0.120

5/8

(0.6250)

5/16

0.312

0.469

0.456

0.164

0.148

3/4

(0.7500)

3/8

0.375

0.562

0.549

0.196

0.180

7/8

(0.8750)

1/2

0.500

0.656

0.642

0.227

0.211

(1.0000)

9/16

0.562

0.750

0.734

0.260

0.240

1-1/8

(1.1250)

9/16

0.562

0.844

0.826

0.291

0.271

1-1/4

(1.2500)

5/8

0.625

0.938

0.920

0.323

0.303

1-3/8

(1.3750)

5/8

0.625

1.031

1.011

0.354

0.334

1-1/2

(1.5000)

3/4

0.750

1.125

1.105

0.385

0.365

1-3/4

(1.7500)

1.000

1.312

1.289

0.448

0.428

(2.000)

1.000

1.500

1.474

0.510

0.490

Cold Form Socket Set Screws

At Nickel Systems, we apply the cold forming process to our manufacturing of Socket Set Screws. Here’s a breakdown of their characteristics and advantages:

Description:

Definition: Socket set screws are headless screws with threads along their entire length, typically tightened using an internal hex (Allen) wrench.

Cold Formed: The manufacturing process involves shaping the screw from metal at room temperature rather than machining. This method improves the screw’s strength and durability.
Material: Commonly made from carbon steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel for high strength and corrosion resistance.
Types of Points:
- Flat Point: Provides a flat contact surface
- Cup Point: The most common type, with a slightly concave tip for better grip on surfaces
- Cone Point: A sharp point for penetrating or precise positioning
- Dog Point: A cylindrical tip for alignment and engagement in a mating hole
- Knurled Point: A rigid or grooved surface which enhances the screw’s grip
Finish: Can be plain, zinc-coated, or treated with black oxide to resist corrosion.

Steps in the Cold Heading Process

Cutting: The raw material (wire) is cut into the desired length. These are called blanks.
Heading: The blanks is compressed and shaped using dies and punches.
Threading Operation: The blanks are then fed through threader. Threading dies give the screw its threads.
Final Process: Screws are then cleaned and their tolerances are checked.

Key Features:

Thread Design: Fully threaded to maximize grip and adjustability.
Internal Drive: The hex socket design allows for torque application with minimal risk of cam-out.
Compactness: Lacks a head, making it flush with or recessed in the material for a clean appearance.
Versatility: Used in applications where precise clamping or positioning of components is required.

Applications:

Securing pulleys, collars, and gears to shafts.
Positioning components in mechanical assemblies.
Locking parts together in low-clearance areas where standard screws or bolts are impractical.

Advantages of Cold Forming:

Increased Strength: Cold-forming work-hardens the material, enhancing its mechanical properties.
Cost-Effective: Produces less waste compared to machining.
High Precision: Ideal for mass production with consistent quality and dimensions.
Surface Finish: Cold-formed screws typically have smoother surfaces than machined screws.

Cold formed socket set screws are an essential component in industrial and mechanical settings where secure, flush-mounted fasteners are needed. Reach out to the Nickel Systems’ sales team and begin your quote today.

Industries We Serve

Nickel Systems provides high quality exotic grade materials that hold up in the toughest, most severe heat and corrosive environments. With our large inventory of specialty fasteners in stock, we are always ready to answer the call to serve the most challenging applications.

Nickel Systems maintains an inventory of split lock washers in Hastelloy® (Alloys C276, C22, B2), Carpenter® 20 (Alloy 20), 18-8 and 316 Stainless. Current inventory includes 317L Stainless, K-Monel® (Alloy 500) and AL6XN®. Additionally, we can re-machine certain sizes to produce hi-collar lock washers for use with socket head cap screws.

Cold-formed Socket Set Screws