Glossary

The specific area of a fastener, typically on the underside of the head or nut, that directly makes contact with and distributes the load onto the material being fastened. This surface is crucial for transmitting clamping force and preventing damage to the joint.

A Belleville spring washer—also known as a conical spring washer—is a type of washer shaped like a slightly cupped disc (a conical shape). It is designed to provide a spring-like force when compressed, making it ideal for applications where tensioning, load-bearing, or shock absorption is needed.

A sloped or angled edge that is cut or formed between two surfaces. In fasteners, a bevel is often used on the end of a bolt or washer to ease installation, guide alignment, or remove sharp edges.

A binding self-drilling screw is a type of self-drilling fastener designed to secure thin materials together—typically sheet metal, aluminum, or light steel—without the need for pre-drilling a pilot hole. The “binding” designation refers to its low-profile head, which is ideal when a flush, clean finish is needed.

A raw or unfinished piece of material that will be further machined, shaped, or processed into a finished part. In fastener manufacturing, a blank typically refers to the basic form of a bolt, screw, or nut before threads are added and surface treatments are applied.

A purchasing agreement where a buyer places a long-term order with a supplier for a specified quantity of products or materials to be delivered over time. In some cases, the supplier keeps the inventory stored in their warehouse and ships it to the buyer as needed. This arrangement helps streamline ordering, reduce administrative costs, and ensure a consistent supply without needing to issue multiple individual purchase orders.

A blind bolt is a type of fastener designed for installation from only one side of the workpiece—hence the term "blind." It is commonly used when the back side of the material is inaccessible, such as in tubular structures, wall cavities, or closed sections.

Blind Threaded Stud Inserts are fasteners designed to provide a strong, load-bearing threaded stud in thin or soft materials (like sheet metal, plastic, or composites), and—crucially—they can be installed from one side only (the “blind” side).

A fastener with an external thread designed to be inserted through aligned holes in assembled parts and secured with a nut. Bolts provide clamping force to hold components together and are commonly used in applications where disassembly and reassembly are needed. They come in various head styles and grades to suit different strength and installation requirements.

The main cylindrical body of a bolt, extending from directly beneath the head to its tip. It encompasses both the unthreaded portion, commonly referred to as the shank, and the threaded portion designed for engagement with a nut or tapped hole. Essentially, it's the entire length of the bolt's body that provides its structural connection.

A brad nail is a thin, small-gauge nail typically used in woodworking and finishing tasks where a discreet, delicate fastener is needed.

The sudden and catastrophic fracture of a material with little or no plastic deformation, typically occurring without warning when the material is subjected to stress beyond its tensile strength. 

A precise machining process performed on a fastener after initial shaping. It uses a specialized, multi-toothed cutting tool to create highly accurate internal or external profiles by removing material. Broaching creates features such as square or hexagonal holes in nuts or keyways and interlocking ridges known as splines on shafts, which are often difficult to form using primary methods like cold or hot forming.

A bugle head screw is a type of screw characterized by its distinctive head shape, which resembles a bugle or trumpet. This design makes it particularly well-suited for specific applications, primarily in construction and woodworking.

A type of material rupture or separation that occurs in a fastener during its cold heading or forming process. This defect typically results from tensile stresses exceeding the material's ductility limits, especially when material is being upset or expanded rapidly. You'll often see these bursts as open cracks or tears along the edges or corners of the fastener's head or other upset areas. They severely compromise the fastener's strength, leading to early failure.