Certain applications require a screw, which is buried completely in a tapped hole in one of the material surfaces. This is a job for a socket set screw.

An important consideration when choosing a socket set screw is how it will interact with the material at the bottom of the hole. If the set screw is to “dig-in”, a point style which features minimal surface area works best. These point styles would include cup, cone or knurled cup. If minimal marring of the surface is required, flat, full dog or half dog would be the point style of choice.

Cup point is the most common style in inventory at Nickel Systems. Socket set screw stock currently includes parts in Hastelloy® C276 (Alloy C276, Alloy 22), Carpenter® 20 (Alloy 20), Duplex 2205, Monel® (Alloy 400, Alloy 405), Inconel® 600 (Alloy 600) and various grades of Stainless (18-8, 316, 317L, 416).

Set screws are often used to keep a pulley, gear or similar disc-shaped object attached to a shaft. One advantage of a square head set screw over a socket set screw is that it is externally wrenched. With a socket set screw, grease and dirt may pack into the broach and render it incapable of disassembly.

Various point styles are available on set screws. The choice depends on the application. Point choices include cup, knurled cup, flat, half dog, full dog and cone.

Most of the square head set screws in inventory at Nickel Systems have a cup point. Our shop can readily modify existing parts to provide other point styles. Current inventory includes Hastelloy® (Alloys C276, C22, C2000), Carpenter® 20 (Alloy 20), AL6XN®, Nickel 200, 18-8, 316, 316L and 317L Stainless.