If you're looking to a career as a machinist, you'll need to know about the many types of machining tools and parts, including machine screws. Proper machine screws education and training can teach you about standard machine screws, metric machine screws, stainless steel machine screws, industrial machine screws, sizes, types of threads and other information about machine screws.

The most common route to learning about machine screws is through trade school classes as well as apprenticeships with machinists. You might also learn about machine screws from manufacturers of machine screws as well as suppliers of machine screws or distributors of machine screws. No matter what source you use, machine screws education and training can be an integral part of becoming a machinist:

1. Get a degree or certificate as part of your machine screws education and training.
2. Apprentice with a machine shop to learn hands-on about machine screws.
3. Look to distributors, suppliers or manufacturers of machine screws for education and training.
   

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Enroll in a technical college to obtain machine screws education and training

A certificate or diploma from an accredited technical college or trade school will not only help you find a job as a machinist or machine operator, it also will place you in classes where you can gain knowledge about machine screws and other machine parts and tools. Combining classroom settings with hands-on experience, technical schools can be a major part of machine screws education and training.

I recommend: Learn about machine screws and more when you pursue a certificate as a machine tool operator from Central Carolina Technical College, a program which includes classes such as Machine Tool Theory and Machine Tool Practice. West Central Technical College provides a technical diploma in Machine Tool Technology, which covers information on machine screws.

Receive hands-on training with machine screws and other machine tools and parts

Many machinists begin their careers in an apprenticeship program. Working with an established machinist or machine shop will provide you with invaluable hands-on experience, which will give you the type of machine screws education and training you might not find elsewhere.

I recommend: Penn Foster Workforce Development has a Machinist Apprentice Training program providing a training course list that includes fasteners, which covers information about machine screws. Los Alamos National Laboratory offers an intensive four-year apprenticeship program for machinists covering operating, maintaining and repairing machine tools, all of which will require working with machine screws.

Gather information about machine screws from those who make and sell them

You can find a wealth of information about machine screws from manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of machine screws. You can check out supplier and manufacturer websites for detailed information about machine screws, or get spec sheets or manuals giving sizes, head diameters and other useful information on machine screws.

I recommend: Find a comprehensive list of machine screws with pictures and details about each type at BoltDepot.com. Marine Fasteners, suppliers of machine screws, offers a detailed chart about machine screws on their website. Crescent Manufacturing, makers of machine screws, not only lists the details of their screws online, but also provides a Product Inquiry Form to allow you to get further information on machine screws.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Subscribe to trade publications for machinists or machine operators or purchase technical education books for machinists to learn more machine screw information.

Machine screws differ from simple screws in that they fit into a female receiver, which may be a nut or a pre-drilled hole, instead of into a soft material like wood. A machine screw is strong enough for many uses: home, automotive, marine, military, industrial, high-tension and high-corrosion.

Some of the most common finishes for machine screws are zinc plated steel, stainless steel, nylon and black oxide coated stainless. All of these resist corrosion and are strong.

With all this information about machine screws, now you just need to know the best way to buy them for your small business. Keep these tricks in mind as you start shopping:

1. Distributors or manufacturers of machine screws offer competitive pricing.

2. Suppliers of machine screws can keep you up to date on what is new in the industry.

3. Buy as few or as many machine screws as you need.

Action Steps
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Choose distributors of machine screws whose ordering policy works for your business

Decide how to buy machine screws based on your business needs. If you do not require bulk purchases, select a distributor with no minimum order requirement.

I recommend: Order online at Bolt Depot. They stock an unusually wide variety of nuts and bolts, including machine screws. Additionally, they do not require a minimum order and your order will ship the same day if you get it in by 2 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday. Complete a quote request form for bulk or custom orders at Fastener-Express.

Shop manufacturers of machine screws if you have special needs for your business

Purchase directly from the machine screw manufacturer if you require hard to find sizes for your project. Many will custom make your machine screws if they do not stock the size you need.

I recommend: Complete an inquiry form at Crescent Manufacturing to find exactly the machine screw you need. Goulet Specialties is constantly updating their product line and they carry fasteners that are too special for any distributor to carry and either too long or too short for many other manufacturers.

Buy machine screws wholesale or in bulk to save more money

If your small business requires more than just a couple of machine screws for one odd job, you should consider buying in bulk to save more money.

I recommend: Request a quote from Lightning Bolt Inc. They offer machine screws at wholesale prices. InStock Fasteners offers big savings, selection, and convenience for fastener buyers both small and large. Register with them to track your order, maintain your order history and inquire about their volume based discounts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The same place you purchase your machine screws is a great source for machine screw information. Many companies offer toll free numbers where you can speak to a representative who will gladly answer any questions you may have about what type, size or finish is best for the job.

Machine screws are essential components of industrial equipment. Apart from fastening, these screws also serve as a member of a drive system for an industrial machine. Mostly, fastener manufacturers use metals and alloys for manufacturing these screws.

If you want to buy machine screws, you will need to be conversant with certain terms that indicate specifications, types or measurement units for these screws. This guide will introduce you to some technical terms, such as lead angle, major diameter, pitch and ball screws.

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Lead angle

Lead angle is the angle made by the helix of a screw thread with a plane perpendicular to the screw axis.

I recommend: To understand the definition of lead angle, read through the glossary of technical terms at All American Security Fasteners, a supplier of industrial fasteners.

Major diameter

Major diameter is another important specification of a machine screw. It can be defined as the diameter of an imaginary cylinder parallel with the crests of the threads of a machine screw.

I recommend: Bolt Depot, an online retailer of fastener products, provides definitions for various fastener terms, including major diameter.

Minor diameter

This is another diametric specification of machine screws. It is defined as the diameter of an imaginary cylinder that just touches the roots of the threads of a machine screw.

I recommend: Allmetal Screw Products, a manufacturer of stainless steel fastener products, offers a glossary of important fastener terms. You can also read through the thread glossary at eMachineShop.

Pitch

Thread pitch (or pitch) is the distance from a point on a screw thread to the corresponding point on the next thread, measured parallel to the axis of the machine screw.

I recommend: For definition of thread pitch, read through the glossary of technical terms at Roton Products, a supplier of industrial screws. Bolt Science also offers a glossary of technical terms related to nuts, bolts and screws.

Metric dimensions

Metric dimensions are the dimensions of industrial products according to the Systeme Internationale (SI) standards. For machine screws, the length and diameter is measured in millimeters or centimeters, according to the SI standards.

I recommend: For basic information on metric dimensions, read through the masonry glossary at Woodruff Block Company.

Imperial dimensions

Unlike metric dimensions, the imperial measurement system specifies lengths of machine screws in inches.

I recommend: Technology Services (PDF), a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, provides an informative document that explains the relation between different measurement units. You can also read through the definitions for the imperial units by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Cold or hot forming

As the name indicates, a cold forming (or cold working) process is a metal forming operation carried out at room temperature. A hot forming process is carried out at high temperatures, as the yield strength of a metal or alloy is less at higher temperatures.

I recommend: To understand the concept of cold forming, read through the fasteners glossary at Marsh Fasteners, a reputable supplier of industrial fasteners. Sandmeyer Steel Company, a supplier of industrial steel products, offers a glossary of technical terms, including cold forming and hot forming.

Ball screws

A ball screw is a special type of machine screw that can be used to convert rotary motion to linear motion or torque to thrust. These screws are useful for industrial drive systems as they have very low friction.

I recommend: Sherline Products, a supplier of machine tools, offers a glossary of technical terms, including ball screws.