In modern industrial manufacturing, construction, and the assembly of daily necessities, fasteners play an indispensable role. As core components for connection and fixation, the quality and selection of fasteners directly affect the stability, safety, and service life of products. Among them, screws, as important members of the fastener family, have become the focus of various industries due to their diverse types and wide range of application scenarios. This article will focus on the fastener industry, analyze the characteristics and application scenarios of machine screws, self-tapping screws, self-drilling screws, and wood screws in detail, provide practical selection and installation suggestions, and look forward to the future development trends of the industry.

Fasteners refer to mechanical parts used to connect two or more components into a single unit, which are widely used in machinery, electronics, automobiles, construction, aerospace, and other fields. According to industry reports, the global fastener market scale has continued to grow in recent years, exceeding 100 billion US dollars in 2024, among which screw products account for more than 40% of the market share. The quality of fasteners is directly related to the reliability of end products. For example, in automobile manufacturing, an unqualified screw may cause loose parts and lead to serious safety accidents; in construction projects, inferior fasteners may result in unstable building structures and 埋下 potential safety hazards.

With the improvement of industrial automation and the development of emerging industries, the market demand for fasteners is not only increasing in quantity but also putting forward higher requirements for their performance, precision, and corrosion resistance. At present, the fastener industry is developing towards high strength, lightweight, and intelligence. The application of new materials such as titanium alloys and carbon fiber composites is gradually increasing, injecting new vitality into the industry.

Machine screws are specifically designed for mechanical assembly, usually used with nuts to connect two or more parts with prefabricated internal threads. Their threads extend from the head to the tail, and the thread precision is relatively high, which can provide a stable connection effect.

In terms of structure, machine screws have various head types, including round heads, flat heads, countersunk heads, pan heads, etc., to adapt to different assembly scenarios and appearance requirements. There are also multiple options for the driving methods of the heads, such as slotted, cross-slot, and hexagon socket. Among them, the hexagon socket is widely used in high-precision mechanical assembly due to its uniform force bearing and low risk of slipping.

In terms of materials, common machine screws are made of carbon steel, stainless steel, copper alloys, etc. Carbon steel machine screws have high strength and relatively low prices, making them suitable for general mechanical assembly; stainless steel machine screws have good corrosion resistance and are often used in humid and corrosive environments, such as marine equipment and chemical machinery; copper alloy machine screws have excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, making them suitable for the connection of electronic equipment.

Machine screws have a wide range of application scenarios. In machinery manufacturing, they are used to connect parts such as gears, bearings, and casings; in electronic equipment, they are used to fix circuit boards and housings; in instruments and meters, high-precision threads ensure the stability and accuracy of the instruments. For example, in machine tool manufacturing, a large number of countersunk machine screws are used to fix machine tool guide rails, which not only ensures the firmness of the connection but also does not affect the sliding performance of the guide rails.

Self-tapping screws are screws that can tap threads by themselves without pre-tapping on the connected parts. Their thread profiles are special, usually triangular or trapezoidal, with large thread pitches and sharp heads, which are convenient for cutting into the connected parts.

The biggest feature of self-tapping screws is convenient installation. They eliminate the need for tapping procedures, greatly improving assembly efficiency. According to different application scenarios, self-tapping screws can be divided into ordinary self-tapping screws, self-tapping locking screws, and wallboard self-tapping screws. Ordinary self-tapping screws are suitable for connecting materials such as plastics and thin metal plates; self-tapping locking screws have anti-loosening functions, and through special thread design or coating treatment, they can maintain the stability of the connection in a vibrating environment, making them often used in automobiles, home appliances, and other fields; wallboard self-tapping screws are specially designed for wall installation and can be reliably fixed on materials such as gypsum boards and lightweight partition walls.

In terms of material selection, self-tapping screws are mostly made of medium carbon steel or alloy steel and undergo heat treatment to improve their hardness and wear resistance. Surface treatment methods include galvanizing, nickel plating, phosphating, etc. Among them, galvanizing treatment can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of screws and extend their service life.

Self-tapping screws are widely used in furniture manufacturing to connect wood boards and man-made boards; in the home appliance industry, they are used to fix the housings and internal parts of washing machines and refrigerators; in the construction and decoration field, they are used to install suspended ceilings and partition boards. For example, in the assembly of custom furniture, flat-head self-tapping screws are used to connect the side panels and horizontal panels of wardrobes, which not only have a fast installation speed but also a firm connection.

Self-drilling screws, also known as drill-tail screws, are screws that integrate drilling, tapping, and locking. Their heads have drill-bit-shaped tips, which can drill holes by themselves during installation without pre-drilling, further simplifying the assembly process.

Compared with self-tapping screws, self-drilling screws have stronger drilling capabilities and are suitable for thicker metal materials, such as steel plates and steel pipes. Their thread design is also more special, which can quickly tap threads while drilling and has good self-locking performance. According to the shape of the drill bit, self-drilling screws can be divided into pointed type and flat-end type. The pointed type is suitable for softer metal materials, while the flat-end type is suitable for harder metal materials.

Self-drilling screws are usually made of high-strength alloy steel and undergo quenching treatment, which gives them high hardness and toughness. Surface treatment mostly adopts galvanizing or dacromet treatment. Dacromet treatment has more excellent corrosion resistance and is suitable for harsh environments such as outdoor, high-temperature, and high-corrosion areas.

In steel structure buildings, self-drilling screws are used to connect steel structure frames and color steel plates; in the automobile manufacturing industry, they are used to fix body parts and chassis structures; in the installation of electrical equipment, they are used to fix distribution boxes and cable trays. For example, in the construction of steel-structured workshops, self-drilling screws are used to connect color steel tiles and steel purlins, which increases the installation efficiency by more than 30% compared to traditional screws, and the connection strength can meet the load-bearing requirements of the workshop.

Wood screws are specially designed for wood connection, and their design fully considers the characteristics of wood. Wood screws have deep threads with large pitches, which can better engage with wood fibers and provide a firm connection; their heads are usually round or countersunk, with sharp tips, which are convenient for cutting into wood and reducing damage to wood.

In order to improve the stability and anti-corrosion performance of the connection, wood screws are mostly made of stainless steel or carbon steel treated with galvanizing. Stainless steel wood screws are suitable for outdoor wood products, such as wooden fences and wooden houses, and can effectively resist the erosion of rainwater and moisture; galvanized carbon steel wood screws are suitable for indoor wood products, such as furniture and wooden doors, with relatively low costs.

The application scenarios of wood screws are mainly concentrated in the wood processing and construction decoration fields. In furniture manufacturing, they are used to connect the legs and panels of tables and chairs, and the frames of wardrobes; in construction decoration, they are used to install wooden floors, wooden suspended ceilings, and wooden handrails; in outdoor landscape engineering, they are used to build wooden boardwalks, pavilions, and flower racks. For example, during the installation of solid wood floors, countersunk wood screws are used to fix the floors on the keels, which not only ensures the flatness of the floors but also avoids the exposure of screw heads affecting the appearance.

When selecting screws, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the connecting materials, stress conditions, and service environment to ensure the reliability and safety of the connection.

First, select the appropriate screw type according to the connecting materials. If the connected parts are metal parts with prefabricated internal threads, machine screws should be selected; if the connected materials are plastics, thin metal plates, or other materials without prefabricated threads, self-tapping screws are the ideal choice; for thicker metal materials, self-drilling screws can improve installation efficiency; and wood screws must be used for wood connection.

Second, determine the specifications and materials of the screws based on the stress conditions. For connection parts with large stress, high-strength material screws, such as alloy steel machine screws, should be selected; for parts with small stress, carbon steel screws can be selected. At the same time, the diameter and length of the screws also need to be matched according to the thickness of the connection and the stress magnitude. The larger the diameter and the longer the length of the screws, the stronger the load-bearing capacity.

Finally, select the surface treatment method according to the service environment. In humid and corrosive environments, screws treated with galvanizing, nickel plating, or dacromet should be selected; in high-temperature environments, screws made of high-temperature-resistant materials, such as titanium alloy screws, should be selected.

Correct installation methods are the key to ensuring the quality of screw connections. Different types of screws have different installation steps and precautions.

When installing machine screws, first, ensure that the internal threads of the connected parts match the external threads of the screws. Before installation, an appropriate amount of lubricating oil can be applied to the threads to reduce installation resistance. Use appropriate tools to tighten the screws according to the specified torque to avoid screw breakage due to excessive torque or loose connection due to insufficient torque.

When installing self-tapping screws, there is no need for pre-tapping, but it is necessary to select an appropriate drill bit to drill holes according to the specifications of the screws (for softer materials, they can be directly screwed in). The depth of the hole should be slightly greater than the length of the screw. When screwing in, keep the screws perpendicular to the connected parts to avoid thread damage due to inclination.

When installing self-drilling screws, an electric drill with speed regulation function should be used, and the drilling speed should be adjusted according to the thickness of the connected materials. Appropriate pressure should be applied during drilling to ensure that the drill bit penetrates the materials smoothly. The speed of the electric drill should be reduced during the tapping stage to avoid incomplete thread tapping.

When installing wood screws, in order to prevent wood cracking, for harder wood or large-sized screws, pre-drilling should be carried out, and the diameter of the pre-drilled hole should be smaller than the thread diameter of the screws. When screwing in the screws, apply force slowly and evenly to avoid screw inclination or wood damage.

With the advancement of Industry 4.0, the fastener industry is developing towards intelligent production. The application of automated production lines, robot assembly, and intelligent testing equipment is becoming more and more widespread, which not only improves production efficiency but also enhances the precision and quality stability of products. At the same time, the application of 3D printing technology in fastener manufacturing is gradually increasing, which can quickly produce customized fasteners with complex shapes to meet the needs of special scenarios.

Against the background of increasing global environmental awareness, the fastener industry is also actively promoting green production. On the one hand, the application of new environmentally friendly materials such as degradable plastics and recycled metals is gradually increasing; on the other hand, the production process is continuously optimized to reduce the emission of wastewater, waste gas, and waste residues and reduce energy consumption. In addition, environmentally friendly surface treatment technologies such as chromium-free galvanizing and electrophoretic painting have also been widely promoted.

With the rapid development of emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, aerospace, and high-end equipment manufacturing, the demand for high-end fasteners with high strength, lightweight, and corrosion resistance is increasing day by day. For example, in order to reduce the weight of the car body and improve the cruising range, new energy vehicles have a significantly increased demand for fasteners made of lightweight materials such as titanium alloys and aluminum alloys; the aerospace field has extremely high requirements for the precision and reliability of fasteners, which promotes the technological upgrading of high-end machine screws and self-drilling screws.

The global fastener market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. As the world's largest fastener producer and exporter, China is facing competition from high-end products from developed countries such as Europe, America, and Japan, as well as the impact of low-cost products from emerging markets such as Southeast Asia. In order to enhance competitiveness, domestic fastener enterprises need to strengthen technological research and development, improve product quality, build independent brands, and expand the high-end market.

As an important part of the basic industry, the fastener industry is closely related to the progress of various industries. Machine screws, self-tapping screws, self-drilling screws, and wood screws, as the main members of the screw family, play important roles in different application scenarios with their unique characteristics. In practical applications, scientific selection and correct installation are the keys to ensuring the quality of screw connections, and paying attention to the industry's technological upgrading, green environmental protection, and changes in market demand will help grasp the development trend of the industry and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the fastener industry.

In the future, with the continuous rise of emerging industries and the continuous innovation of technology, the fastener industry will face new development opportunities and challenges. Enterprises need to continuously improve their core competitiveness to adapt to market changes and provide higher-quality and more reliable fastener products for the global industrial development.