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A nut is a type of fastener with a threaded hole. Nuts are almost always used in conjunction with a mating bolt to fasten multiple parts together. The two partners are kept together by a combination of their threads' friction (with slight elastic deformation), a slight stretching of the bolt, and compression of the parts to be held together.
In applications where vibration or rotation may work a nut loose, various locking mechanisms may be employed: lock washers, jam nuts, eccentric double nuts, [1] specialist adhesive thread-locking fluid such as Loctite, safety pins (split pins) or lockwire in conjunction with castellated nuts, nylon inserts (nyloc nut), or slightly oval-shaped threads.
Square nuts, as well as bolt heads, were the first shape made and used to be the most common largely because they were much easier to manufacture, especially by hand. While rare today[ as of? ] due to the reasons stated below for the preference of hexagonal nuts, they are occasionally used in some situations when a maximum amount of torque and grip is needed for a given size: the greater length of each side allows a spanner to be applied with a larger surface area and more leverage at the nut.
The most common shape today is hexagonal, for similar reasons as the bolt head: six sides give a good granularity of angles for a tool to approach from (good in tight spots), but more (and smaller) corners would be vulnerable to being rounded off. It takes only one sixth of a rotation to obtain the next side of the hexagon and grip is optimal. However, polygons with more than six sides do not give the requisite grip and polygons with fewer than six sides take more time to be given a complete rotation. Other specialized shapes exist for certain needs, such as wingnuts for finger adjustment and captive nuts (e.g. cage nuts) for inaccessible areas.
A wide variety of nuts exists, from household hardware versions to specialized industry-specific designs that are engineered to meet various technical standards. Fasteners used in automotive, engineering, and industrial applications usually need to be tightened to a specific torque setting, using a torque wrench. Nuts are graded with strength ratings compatible with their respective bolts; for example, an ISO property class 10 nut will be able to support the bolt proof strength load of an ISO property class 10.9 bolt without stripping. Likewise, an SAE class 5 nut can support the proof load of an SAE class 5 bolt, and so on.
Name | Also known as | Image | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Acorn nut (cap nut) | Crown hex nut, blind nut, cap nut, domed cap nut, or dome nut | ![]() | A nut that has a domed end on one side |
Barrel nut | Steel cross dowel or dowel nut, cross dowel (woodworking) | ![]() | A round slug or formed sheet metal part with threads perpendicular to the length of the nut |
Cage nut | Caged nut, captive nut, clip nut | ![]() | A (usually square) nut in a spring steel cage which wraps around the nut. The cage has two wings that when compressed allow the cage to be inserted into the square holes |
Clip-on nut | J-nut or U-nut, sheet metal nut, speed nut (ambiguously) | ![]() | Designed to be clipped to sheet metal |
Coupling nut | Extension nut | ![]() | A threaded fastener for joining two male threads, most commonly a threaded rod,[1][2] but also pipes |
Flange nut | Collar nut | ![]() | Has a wide flange at one end that acts as an integrated washer |
HARDLOCK Nut [2] | Eccentric Double Nut | | A self-lock nut. Improvement of the double nut that uses a wedge principal, eliminating space between threads. |
Insert nut | Threaded socket | ![]() | A threaded socket for a wooden workpiece, similar to a wall anchor. |
Knurled nut | Thumb nut | ![]() | Has a knurled outside surface which facilitates tightening by hand (thumb nut) or secures the nut into a handle or cover (insertion nut) |
Sex bolt | Barrel nut, barrel bolt, binding barrel, Chicago screw, post and screw or connector bolt | ![]() | Has a barrel-shaped flange and protruding boss that is internally threaded |
Split nut | Split lengthwise into two pieces (opposed halves) so that its female thread may be opened and closed over the male thread of a bolt or leadscrew | ||
Sleeve nut | |||
Spring nut | ![]() | Used with strut to join things to the open face thereof. The grooves in its face engage the lips of the open side of the strut channel, while the spring pushes against the opposite side, to hold the nut in place. | |
Square nut | ![]() | Four-sided nut. Compared to standard hex nuts, square nuts have a greater surface in contact with the part being fastened, and therefore provide greater resistance to loosening (though also greater resistance to tightening)[ citation needed ] | |
Swage nut | Self-clinching nut | | Used on sheet metal. It permanently anchors itself to the sheet metal by swaging the surrounding material. |
Star nut | Threadless fork star nut | ![]() | Part of a threadless-style headset used to attach a bicycle fork to a bicycle frame. Semi-permanently anchors itself inside the fork steerer tube. Can be mounted using a star nut setter. |
T-nut | tee nut, blind nut (ambiguously) | | Used to fasten a wood, particle or composite materials workpiece, leaving a flush surface. |
T-slot nut | T-groove nut | ![]() | Used with a threaded clamp to position and secure pieces being worked on in a workshop |
Wedge nut | ![]() | Used for creating overhanging decks. | |
Weld nut | ![]() | Designed to be welded to another object | |
Well nut | Rawlnut or Rawl nut (proprietary) | ![]() | Used to blindly fasten a piece and to seal the bolt hole |
Wing nut | Butterfly nut | ![]() | Has two large metal "wings", one on each side, so it can be easily tightened and loosened by hand without tools |
Many specialised types of nut exist to resist loosening of bolted joints, either by providing a prevailing torque against the male fastener or by gripping against the bolted components. These are generally referred to as locknuts.
Note that flat (spanner or wrench) sizes differ between industry standards. For example, spanner or wrench sizes of fastener used in Japanese built cars comply with JIS automotive standard.
Nominal hole diameter, D (mm) | Pitch, P (mm) | Across flats, A/F (mm) | External diameter; across corners, A/C (mm) | Height, H (mm) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st choice | 2nd choice | Coarse | Fine | ISO | DIN | JIS | Hex nut | Jam nut | Nylon nut | |
1 | 0.25 | 2.5 | ||||||||
1.2 | 0.25 | |||||||||
1.4 | 0.3 | |||||||||
1.6 | 0.35 | 3.2 | ||||||||
1.8 | 0.35 | |||||||||
2 | 0.4 | 4 | 1.6 | 1.2 | - | |||||
2.5 | 0.45 | 5 | 2 | 1.6 | - | |||||
3 | 0.5 | 5.5 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4 | ||||
3.5 | 0.6 | 6 | ||||||||
4 | 0.7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8.1 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 5 | ||
5 | 0.8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9.2 | 4 | 2.7 | 5 | ||
6 | 1 | 0.75 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11.5 | 5 | 3.2 | 6 | |
7 | 1 | 11 | 5.5 | 3.5 | - | |||||
8 | 1.25 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 6.5 | 4 | 8 | |
10 | 1.5 | 1.25 or 1 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 19.6 | 8 | 5 | 10 | |
12 | 1.75 | 1.5 or 1.25 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 22.1 | 10 | 6 | 12 | |
14 | 2 | 1.5 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 14 | ||
16 | 2 | 1.5 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 27.7 | 13 | 8 | 16 | |
18 | 2.5 | 2 or 1.5 | 27 | 27 | 15 | 9 | 18.5 | |||
20 | 2.5 | 2 or 1.5 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 34.6 | 16 | 10 | 20 | |
22 | 2.5 | 2 or 1.5 | 32 | |||||||
24 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 41.6 | 19 | |||||
27 | 3 | 2 | 41 | 41 | ||||||
30 | 3.5 | 2 | 46 | 53.1 | 24 | |||||
33 | 3.5 | 2 | ||||||||
36 | 4 | 3 | 55 | 63.5 | 29 | |||||
39 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||
42 | 4.5 | 3 | ||||||||
45 | 4.5 | 3 | ||||||||
48 | 5 | 3 | ||||||||
52 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||
56 | 5.5 | 4 | ||||||||
60 | 5.5 | 4 | ||||||||
64 | 6 | 4 |
UTS size | Nominal hole diameter, D | Pitch, P | Across flats, A/F | Across corners, A/C | Height, H | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coarse (UNC) | Fine (UNF) | Extra fine (UNEF) | Hex nut | Jam nut | Nylon nut | |||||||||||||||||||
(in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | (in) | (mm) | |||||||
#0 | 5⁄32 | 0.1563 | 3.969 | |||||||||||||||||||||
#1 | 5⁄32 | 0.1563 | 3.969 | |||||||||||||||||||||
#2 | 0.086 | 2.1844 | 3⁄16 | 0.1875 | 4.763 | 5.18 | 1.65 | |||||||||||||||||
#3 | 3⁄16 | 0.1875 | 4.763 | 5.10 | 1.85 | |||||||||||||||||||
#4 | 0.1120 | 2.8448 | 1⁄4 | 0.2500 | 6.35 | 7.05 | 2.25 | |||||||||||||||||
#6 | 0.1380 | 3.5052 | 5⁄16 | 0.3125 | 7.938 | 8.95 | 2.85 | |||||||||||||||||
#8 | 0.1640 | 4.1656 | 11⁄32 | 0.3440 | 8.731 | 0.386 | 9.80 | 3.05 | ||||||||||||||||
#10 | 0.1900 | 4.8260 | 3⁄8 | 0.3750 | 9.525 | 0.461 | 11.70 | 3.10 | ||||||||||||||||
#12 | 0.2160 | 5.4864 | 7⁄16 | 0.4375 | 11.113 | |||||||||||||||||||
1⁄4 | 1⁄4 | 0.250 | 6.350 | 7⁄16 | 0.4375 | 11.113 | ||||||||||||||||||
5⁄16 | 5⁄16 | 0.3125 | 7.9375 | 1⁄2 | 0.5000 | 12.700 | 0.577 | |||||||||||||||||
3⁄8 | 3⁄8 | 0.375 | 9.525 | 9⁄16 | 0.5620 | 14.288 | 0.650 | |||||||||||||||||
7⁄16 | 7⁄16 | 11⁄16 | 0.6750 | 17.463 | ||||||||||||||||||||
1⁄2 | 1⁄2 | 0.500 | 12.70 | 3⁄4 | 0.7500 | 19.050 | 0.866 | |||||||||||||||||
9⁄16 | 9⁄16 | 7⁄8 | 0.8750 | 22.225 | ||||||||||||||||||||
5⁄8 | 5⁄8 | 15⁄16 | 0.9375 | 23.813 | 1.083 | |||||||||||||||||||
3⁄4 | 3⁄4 | 0.750 | 1+1⁄8 | 1.1250 | 28.575 | 1.299 | ||||||||||||||||||
7⁄8 | 7⁄8 | 1+5⁄16 | 1.3125 | 33.338 | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 | 1 | 1 | 25.40 | 1+1⁄2 | 1.5000 | 38.100 | 1.653 |
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2009) |
Hex nuts, recognized by their six-sided shape, and square nuts, with a square form, are commonly used. Steel nuts are strong and great for construction, while stainless steel ones resist rust, perfect for outdoor use. Brass nuts, corrosion-resistant, find their place in electrical and plumbing work. Lock nuts, like nylon-insert or prevailing torque types, prevent loosening due to vibration or torque, catering to specific needs across industries.
Material | Proof strength | Min. tensile yield strength | Min. tensile ultimate strength | Nut marking | Nut class | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISO 898 (Metric) | |||||||
Low or medium carbon steel | 380 MPa (55 ksi) | 420 MPa (61 ksi) | 520 MPa (75 ksi) | ![]() | 5 | ||
Medium carbon steel Q&T | 580 MPa (84 ksi) | 640 MPa (93 ksi) | 800 MPa (116 ksi) | ![]() | 8 | ||
Alloy steel Q&T | 830 MPa (120 ksi) | 940 MPa (136 ksi) | 1040 MPa (151 ksi) | ![]() | 10 | ||
SAE J995 (English) | |||||||
Low or medium carbon steel | 55 ksi (379 MPa) | 57 ksi (393 MPa) | 74 ksi (510 MPa) | ![]() | 2 | ||
Medium carbon steel Q&T | 85 ksi (586 MPa) | 92 ksi (634 MPa) | 120 ksi (827 MPa) | ![]() | 5 | ||
Alloy steel Q&T | 120 ksi (827 MPa) | 130 ksi (896 MPa) | 150 ksi (1034 MPa) | ![]() | 8 |
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2011) |
The manufacturing process of nuts involves several steps. It begins with the selection of raw materials like steel, stainless steel, or brass, depending on the desired type of nut. The chosen material undergoes heating to make it more malleable, followed by forming or forging processes to create the basic shape of the nut. Threads are then cut or formed onto the nut using specialized machinery. After threading, nuts may undergo additional treatments such as heat treatment or surface finishing to enhance their strength, durability, or appearance. Quality control checks are performed throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that the nuts meet industry standards and specifications.
An adjustable spanner, shifting spanner, English wrench (Turkey) or adjustable wrench is any of various styles of spanner (wrench) with a movable jaw, allowing it to be used with different sizes of fastener head rather than just one fastener size, as with a conventional fixed spanner.
A fastener or fastening is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints; that is, joints that can be removed or dismantled without damaging the joining components. Steel fasteners are usually made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or alloy steel.
A washer is a thin plate with a hole that is normally used to distribute the load of a threaded fastener, such as a bolt or nut. Other uses are as a spacer, spring, wear pad, preload indicating device, locking device, and to reduce vibration.
A bolted joint is one of the most common elements in construction and machine design. It consists of a male threaded fastener that captures and joins other parts, secured with a matching female screw thread. There are two main types of bolted joint designs: tension joints and shear joints.
A socket wrench is a type of spanner that uses a closed socket format, rather than a typical open wrench/spanner to turn a fastener, typically in the form of a nut or bolt.
A safety wire or locking-wire is a type of positive locking device that prevents fasteners from falling out due to vibration and other forces. The presence of safety wiring may also serve to indicate that the fasteners have been properly tightened.
A lug nut or wheel nut is a fastener, specifically a nut, used to secure a wheel on a vehicle. Typically, lug nuts are found on automobiles, trucks (lorries), and other large vehicles using rubber tires.
A locknut, also known as a lock nut, locking nut, self-locking nut, prevailing torque nut, stiff nut or elastic stop nut, is a nut that resists loosening under vibrations and torque. Prevailing torque nuts have some portion of the nut that deforms elastically to provide a locking action. Free-spinning locknuts exist which carry the advantage of not requiring extra torque until seated.
A nyloc nut, also referred to as a nylon-insert lock nut, polymer-insert lock nut, or elastic stop nut, is a kind of locknut with a nylon collar that increases friction on the screw thread.
A jam nut is a low profile type of nut, typically half as tall as a standard nut. It is commonly used as a type of locknut, where it is "jammed" up against a standard nut to lock the two in place. It is also used in situations where a standard nut would not fit.
A flange nut is a nut that has a wide flange at one end that acts as an integrated washer. This serves to distribute the pressure of the nut over the part being secured, reducing the chance of damage to the part and making it less likely to loosen as a result of an uneven fastening surface. These nuts are mostly hexagonal in shape and are made up of hardened steel and often coated with zinc.
A split beam nut, also known as a split hex nut or slotted beam nut, is a locknut with slots cut in the top that separate the outside end into two or more sections that are bent slightly inward, making the thread diameter undersized in the slotted portion. As the nut is threaded on, these sections are forced back out to their original position and increase the friction between the nut and the fastener, creating the locking action.
A distorted thread locknut, is a type of locknut that uses a deformed section of thread to keep the nut from loosening due to vibrations, or rotation of the clamped item. There are four types: elliptical offset nuts, centerlock nuts, toplock nuts and partially depitched (Philidas) nuts.
A speed nut, aka sheet metal nut or Tinnerman nut, is a type of locknut with two sheet metal prongs that act as one thread. They are made from spring steel.
Multi-jackbolt tensioners (MJT) are an alternative to traditional bolted joints. Rather than needing to tighten one large bolt, MJTs use several smaller jackbolts to significantly reduce the torque required to attain a certain preload. MJTs range in thread sizes from 3⁄4 in (19 mm) to 32 in (810 mm) and can achieve 20 million pounds-force or more. MJTs only require hand-held tools, such as torque wrenches or air/electric impacts, for loading and unloading bolted joints.
A plate nut, also known as a nut plate, anchor nut or anchor plate, is a stamped sheet metal nut that is usually riveted to a workpiece. They have a long tube that is internally threaded and a plate with two clearance holes for rivets. The most popular versions have two lugs and they exist as fixed anchor nuts and as floating anchor nuts. The latter allows the nut to move slightly and so enlarges the positioning tolerances of the mounted parts. They were originally developed for the aerospace industry but are now also common in automotive racing.
A screw is an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force (torque) to the head. The most common uses of screws are to hold objects together and there are many forms for a variety of materials. Screws might be inserted into holes in assembled parts or a screw may form its own thread. The difference between a screw and a bolt is that the latter is designed to be tightened or released by torquing a nut.
A positive locking device is a device used in conjunction with a fastener in order to positively lock the fastener. This means that the fastener cannot work loose from vibrations. The following is a list of positive locking devices:
7-122. GENERAL. The word safetying is a term universally used in the aircraft industry. Briefly, safetying is defined as: "Securing by various means any nut, bolt, turnbuckle etc., on the aircraft so that vibration will not cause it to loosen during operation." These practices are not a means of obtaining or maintaining torque, rather a safety device to prevent the disengagement of screws, nuts, bolts, snap rings, oil caps, drain cocks, valves, and parts. Three basic methods are used in safetying; safety-wire, cotter pins, and self-locking nuts. Retainer washers and pal nuts are also sometimes used.
7-124d. Safety wire must be installed in a manner that will prevent the tendency of the part to loosen.
A bolt is an externally helical threaded fastener that fastens objects with unthreaded holes together. This is done by applying a twisting force (torque) to a matching nut. The bolt has an external male thread requiring a matching nut with a pre-formed female thread. Unlike a screw, which holds objects together by the restricting motion parallel to the axis of the screw via the normal and frictional forces between the screw's external threads and the internal threads in the objects to be fastened, a bolt prevents that linear motion via the frictional and normal forces between the bolt's external threads and the internal threads of the matching nut, which can be tightened by applying a torque which moves the nut linearly along the axis of the bolt and compresses the objects to be fastened.