The 12-24 is available depending on head and drive design. If not if your volume is big enough and you just can't get away from the screw and need 304 s/s versus the 18-8, find a Cold Header and have them made. Someone mentioned fastenal, here is their link below.
I have only used 12-24 once on and generator, but the generator was about 40 year old design. It is out there but I have no idea why someone would use it.
Chris
"In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics." Homer Simpson
drawoh,
The 19" rack you are refering to are probably ETSI type(which uses M6) or WECO type or the cheapo economy versions (which use #10). Typical better quality EIA racks,unequal flange racks, seismic,etc.. (much more popular) all use #12-24. We get them from fastenal.. Ours are #12-24 x 1/2" ph pan hd type 23 zinc plated steel.
You see them specified from time to time. I personally always jump from 10-24 to 1/4-20. I also jump from 3/8 to 1/2, skipping 7/16, but that's just me.
In the old-timey times there used to be a #14 machine screw as well, but I haven't seen one of those for a long time.
Harley-Davidsons use them in several places, I believe the seat hold-down on my Sportster uses a 12-24 stud. Believe it or not, I've seen a similar posting on maybe 4 or 5 different forums on where to get these! So they must be "un-common" enough to not be stocked in many stores, but "common enough" that people need them.
MintJulep,
They wouldn't be referring to a M12, by any chance? As in 12mm... and the scale of the drawing is wrong...?
I once went to the hardware store for a 10-32 tap, came home with a 3/16"-32 tap. Didn't realize until I took it out of the package to use it. Measured... Yup 3/16". I kept it just as a reminder to read the label on things.