A screw is a shaft with a helical groove or thread formed on its surface and provision at one end to turn the screw. Its main uses are as a threaded fastener used to hold objects together, and as a simple machine used to translate torque into linear force. It can also be defined as an inclined plane wrapped around a shaft. A screw used as a threaded fas...

Bolts are used with nuts and often with washers. The three basic types are carriage bolts, stove bolts, and machine bolts. Other types include the masonry bolt and anchor, toggle bolt, and expansion bolt, which are used to distribute weight when fastening something to a hollow wall. Machine bolts are manufactured in two gauges: fine-threaded and coarse. C...

The easiest way to fasten two pieces of wood together is with nails. They are manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes, and metals to complete almost any fastening job. Most commonly, nails are made of steel, but other types -- aluminum, brass, nickel, bronze, copper, and stainless steel -- are available for use where corrosion could occur. In addition,...

A rubber bushing is a device, primarily used in suspension systems, which separates the faces of two metal objects whilst still allowing a set degree of movement. This movement allows the suspension parts to move freely for example when traveling over a large bump but minimizes transmission of noise and small vibrations through to the chassis of the vehic...

China's Ministry of Commerce started Monday an anti-dumping investigation into carbon steel fasteners imported from the European Union (EU), the country's latest response to the latter's proposed high anti-dumping duties on Chinese fastener exports.     An application for a probe was filed on Dec. 1 by the fastener branch of the China...

Chinese fastener enterprises are to work together to appeal against the EU's anti-dumping sanction, according to Feng Jinyao, director of China Fastener Association. The European Commission voted earlier this month to impose anti-dumping duties of 63 to 87 percent on China-made fasteners over the next five years. The vote must be approved by the tra...

Most screws have slot heads and are driven with slotted, or standard, screwdrivers. Phillips-head screws have crossed slots and are driven with Phillips screwdrivers. Screws are measured in both length and diameter at the shank, which is designated by gauge number from 0 to 24. Length is measured in inches. The length of a screw is important because at l...

 n June 2001, at the G.M. Shrum Generating Station, one 500KV bushing on one of the unit transformer, T4C, failed violently with all the porcelain ( both above and below the mounting flange ) blew up into pieces the size of a fist. Oil was drained out of the conservator tank through the bushing and fires started both on top and at the bottom of the t...

 A coupler is a mechanism for connecting railroad cars in a train. On many railroads, including those of North America, cars are connected by couplers consisting of knuckles--clamps that lock with their mates--joined to the ends of drawbars, which are fastened to housing mechanisms on the cars. Cars automatically couple when they come together and on...

A Belleville washer, also known as a cupped spring washer, is a type of non-flat washer. It has a slight conical shape which gives the washer a spring characteristic. Belleville washers are typically used as springs, or to apply a pre-load or flexible quality to a bolted joint. Belleville springs are also used in a number of landmines e.g. the American M1...