Technically speaking, fastener nuts are small square or hexagonal blocks with a hole in the middle. They are usually made of metal, sometimes plastic and the like. They are fastening devices; nuts are usually female threads. The male threads are called bolts or screws.
When paired up, a nut and a bolt are used to fasten a machine and other structural components. Now that we have a brief understanding of nuts, let’s explore their types and more.
Types of nuts
Various types of fastener nuts are available in the market near you. We will discuss more on hex nuts.
Hex nuts
Hex nuts are hexagonal nuts, which means they have six sides. They are easy to turn because of their six parallels. These are commonly used in machine thread bolts and screws. Clearly, they are the most commonly used nuts in the industry. Oftentimes, they are used for automotive and construction purposes.
What are washers?
These are disk-shaped metal plates with a hole in the middle. They are thin and flat to serve their purpose. These are used in between screws and the objects they are secured to. Such small hardware is typically used to distribute the load over a larger area to prevent loosening. Alternatively, they are used as spacers, locking devices, wear pads and more.
Understanding the utility of nuts and washers
Fasteners like these are used with bolts or screws to fasten material together. Washers are used between the fasteners nutand bolt to distribute the load. Sometimes, they are only used between the bolt head and the material.
These small, flat discs can be important for a plethora of reasons:
- Distributing the load
The fastener washers can distribute the load of a threaded fastener. Division of load among the material can be important when driving into soft materials like wood or aluminium. These soft materials are vulnerable to stress-related damage.
- Preventing damage
Such devices can prevent the bolt head and nut from damaging the surfaces of the two fastened parts.
- Reducing friction
These can help to reduce friction between the fastener and the surface being fastened. This makes it easier to tighten the nut or bolt.
- Preventing loosening
Some Fasteners washers are designed to prevent the nut or bolt from loosening over time.
- Fluid proof
Some of these devices prevent ingress of water and other liquids. They are often used in waterpipes to waterproof them. Such washers are made out of soft material, which allows them to press completely against the surface.
In conclusion
These hardware are important components of industrial machines. Bolts, screws and nuts work hand in hand to secure structural components. In places where vibration or rotation may make a nut loose, fastener washers can come to your rescue. The most popular is the hexagonal nut, as it gives a good granularity of angles for a wrench. Head out to the BMG website to purchase them.
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