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Designed for OEM, industrial and production applications.

Contact Apex for production quantities, custom requirements and volume pricing.

Authorized Distributor for:

Tapping Screws
Tapping screws are identified by letter or number combination to define a thread form and point design or by a licensed product name which was developed for a specific application. All tapping screws have either machine screw threads or spaced threads. Generally tapping screws can be grouped into these categories: Thread Forming, Thread Cutting, & Self Drilling, please see below for links to further information.

Self-Drilling Screws

Apex Fasteners provides self drilling screws in accordance with SAE J78-1998 developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Self drilling fasteners drill a hole and form or cut mating threads into the material into which they are driven without deforming their threads. These fasteners can be provided with a bonded neoprene washer in order to seal in wet applications. These fasteners are typically available in carbon steel and 410 stainless steel.

Sheet Metal Screws

Sheet metal screws, also commonly known as tapping screws, are used to join thin gage sheet metal. Generally harder than machine screws, sheet metal screws require a preformed hole to be effectively employed. The most common sheet metal screws are a Type A with coarse spaced threads and a sharp gimlet point, mostly seen used in stainlesss steel screws; the Type AB which has more narrow thread spacing and a gimlet point; and the Type B which has a blunt point and threads spaced like an AB. ASME B18.6.4

Thread Cutting Screws

Thread cutting screws are generally for applications where disruptive internal stresses are undesirable or where excessive driving torque would be encountered with thread forming screws. The point of the screw has been formed with a cut of varying types for specific applications.

Thread Forming Screws

Covered by ASME B18.6.4 1998 & SAE J81 1997 for Thread Rolling Fasteners. Thread forming tapping screws, also known as thread rolling screws, are generally for applications where large internal stresses are permissible, or desirable, to increase resistance to loosening.

Apex Fasteners provides a complete selection of thread forming screw types to suit all requirements, at OEM production quantities. Our experienced team can help lower assembly costs by eliminating the need to tap and drill panels and by aiding in the selection of the correct screw type and material to meet your needs. Our team can also work with your engineers to develop custom and made-to-print thread forming screws including such features as assembled washers, serrated heads, patches to prevent spin-out, unrolled root diameter dog points, and partially threaded shanks for captivating in cover plates or security drive systems.

Thread forming screws can be broadly categorized into thread forming screws for plastic and thread forming screws for metal.
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APEX FASTENERS, Inc - 15858 Business Center Drive - Irwindale, CA 91706 USA
APEX Fasteners supplies standard and custom screws, nut retainers, shoulder screws, plastites and taptites, all types of rivets, spring steel fasteners and special stampings, sems screws in standard, fractional or metric to electronics, aviation and other OEM industries worldwide. ApexFasteners.com custom manufactures screw machine components for electronic enclosure hardware as well as cold forming and cold headed specials for assembly and production requirements.
Tel: (626) 962-2219 - info@apexfasteners.com
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