What are aircraft screws?
Screws are the most commonly used threaded fastening devices on aircraft. They differ from bolts inasmuch as they are generally made of lower strength materials. They can be installed with a loose fitting thread, and the head shapes are made to engage a screwdriver or wrench.
What are the three types of screws commonly used on aircraft today?
Three types of screws are usually found on an aircraft: machine screws, structural screws, and self-tapping screws. Drive screws are also used but they are actually driven like a nail rather than being threaded like a screw.
What are NAS screws?
NAS bolts comply with the National Aerospace Standard and are commonly used for high technology systems. NAS bolts are necessary for high strength applications and consist of a fine-threaded, dimple headed hex bolt. Material markings for NAS bolts are the same as AN bolt, except they may be either raised or recessed.
What is aircraft hardware?
“Aircraft hardware is the term used to describe the various types of fasteners and miscellaneous small items used in the manufacture and repair of aircraft.” The subject of aircraft hardware can certainly be confusing. Thousands upon thousands of small items are used on a typical airplane.
How many screws are in an airplane?
Nearly one million fasteners, including internally and externally threaded, are used in each plane, bringing the total number of fasteners used in 777 production to approximately 1 billion.
What are structural screws?
Structural screws or construction screws are thin, high-strength screws made of super strong, heat-treated, sometimes galvanized steel. They are a newer type of structural fastener that can be used in place of lag screws to cut down on the time and effort put into drilling.
What does NAS stand for in aviation?
Every day, the Federal Aviation Administration provides air traffic service to more than 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline passengers traveling across the more than 29 million square miles that make up the U.S. national airspace system ( NAS ).
What thread is an AN3 bolt?
10-32 thread
AN3 bolts have a 10-32 thread with a 3/16″ shank diameter. All sizes of AN3 bolts have a 0.406 inch thread length, regardless of grip length.
Does a wing nut need a washer?
Wing nuts are used to make the adjustment of a secured object as easy as possible. The Aercon Anchor designed to be screwed into airated concrete or blocks to provide a threaded socket enabling a Secure Fixing Point. A plain washer prevents the nut sinking into the surface of the wood/plastic/metal.
How do you identify aircraft hardware?
Aircraft hardware is usually identified by its specification number or trade name. Threaded fasteners and rivets are usually identified by AN (Air Force-Navy), NAS (National Aircraft Standard), and MS (Military Standard) numbers.
How are aircraft screws different from other screws?
These aircraft screws differ from bolts in that they are not as strong, but are commonly used. When being installed, a loose-fitting thread is used and the head shapes are made to engage a screwdriver or wrench. Several types of structural aircraft screws differ from the standard structural bolts only in head style.
What do the numbers mean on aerospace screws?
An “A” placed before the material code letter would indicate that the head is drilled for safetying. NAS = National Aircraft Standard. 144 = head style; diameter and thread – 1/4-28 bolt, internal wrenching. DH = drilled head. 22 = screw length in 16ths of an inch – 1 3/8 inches long. The basic NAS number identifies the part.
What kind of fastening is used on an aircraft?
Screws are the most commonly used threaded fastening devices on aircraft. They differ from bolts inasmuch as they are generally made of lower strength materials. They can be installed with a loose fitting thread, and the head shapes are made to engage a screwdriver or wrench.
What kind of steel do Aerospace screws come in?
The AN500 and AN501 screws are available in low carbon steel, corrosion resistant steel, and brass. The AN500 has coarse threads while the AN501 has fine threads.