Self Tapping Screws

[drawoh]

My boss insists on the use of self tapping screws, rather than thread inserts and tapped holes. He has also come up with the idea that we can cut holes in aluminium and drive grade[ ]12.9 screws into them without tapping. The system packages electronics.

Has anyone here any experience with stuff like this? Is there authoritive, documented history? The obvious dumb question is where do the chips wind up?

--
JHG

 

[IRstuff]

Wherever they can...

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[asco1]

Use Thread Forming Screws...no chips...better grip.

 

[drawoh]

asco1,

Is that guaranteed no chips, or probably no chips?

--
JHG

 

[MikeHalloran]

The auto industry uses thread forming screws a lot.
The ones I remember have unthreaded pilots, longer than a full dog point.
Generic screws without a pilot will give you problems with cross-threading and waste production time.

The RV industry has also gone to thread-forming.
They used self-threading screws for a long time, but the long chips that spun out were a cosmetic problem at least, scuffed finished surfaces, and got into everything.



Mike Halloran
Stratford, CT, USA

 

[John Parnell]

Thread forming screws are definitely your best option. I would have a look at these, which I have used in the past: Taptite