There are several fastener options in the markets, among them screws. Screws are the most commonly used fasteners after nails to join pieces of furniture, plastic casings for electronics, among other items. In 2017, screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing in the US brought in $30 billion in revenue. All screws generally have a similar design. The difference comes in the details such as the threading and the diameter of the screw head.
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There are three main types of screws, the standard duty plastic screw, vibration resistant screws and the Threadlocker or Loctite screws. Standard duty screws are not always the fastener option of choice. Items such as mobile phones, tablets, calculators need smaller but functioning fastener options. That is where the micro fasteners and miniature screws come in. These types of screws are not common in the market, but they can be made.
The production of micro and miniature screws has provided custom fastening solutions to electric companies, telecommunication, automobile, computer technology, medical, and industrial among other companies. The word custom here means that consumers can design the screws with specific measurements to be made by a certain micro screw manufacturer or producer.
You do not need to come up with an entirely new invention of a screw although the latter is not discouraged. Instead, you can decide to order a custom micro fastener of an existing design such as the Hi-lo screw. The Hi-lo screw is commonly used because of the convenience of its design. They displace less plastic material and minimize stress due to their reduced minor diameter. They are called Hi-lo screws because of the 30-degree lead high form thread and low thread which minimizes material displacement while providing positive thread engagement.
Modifying an already existing screw design will save time and money. You might want a standard screw but with a different head diameter, pitch or thread length. In this case, the production process is usually shorter than designing and producing a new product.
Custom micro fastener options include micro screws with ultra-thin heads from 0.2mm, a variety of thread options and a wide range of thread sizes from M0.6/#000 and larger. You can also choose the material you want from aluminum to plastic. Several companies are now selling custom manufactured micro screws. Apart from screws, you will also find, custom springs, bolts, and standoffs.