Drive Guide

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Type Notes Ex. METRIC Standard Ex. INCH Standard Slot Very common drive type for many wood, sheet metal, and machine screws. ISO 1580 ASME B18.6.3 Type H (Philips, Cross) Recess Also referred to as "ANSI Type I Cross Recess." ISO 4757 ASME B18.6.3 Combination Bolts and screws are available with many different combinations of drive type, including square/slot, hexalobular/slot, hexagonal/slot, etc, etc. These may be contained within many specifications. ASME B18.6.3 Type Z (PoziDrive) Recess Also referred to as "ANSI Type IA Cross Recess." Marketed as an improvement to the Phillips drive, it features straight side walls to reduce camout. Identified by four marks between the flats of the drive. ISO 4757 ASME B18.6.3 TYPE III Square Recess (Robertson) Square recess with tapered walls. Allows for better "stick-on" when engaging with driver. Common in construction screws and electrical components, often in combination with a slot drive. ASME B18.6.3 Square Recess Square recess with straight walls. Less common than TYPE III Square Recess. Hexagon Recess Common internal 6-point socket head screw. Allows installation in areas with low radial clearance. ISO 4762 ASME B18.3 Hexagon Recess Tamper Resistant Internal Hexagonal Drive with center protrusion to prevent engagement of normal hex driver. Hexalobular / Torx Allows high torque installation with low risk of 'cam out'. Usually found in high volume automotive production applications. Usually used with screw products ISO 10664 ISO 10664 Hexalobular / Torx Tamper Resistant Internal Hexalobular drive featuring a center protrusion, preventing engagement of normal hexalobular driver. Torx Plus Modified Torx design allows high torque installation with low risk of 'cam out'. Usually found in high volume automotive production applications where additional drive torque is required. Licensed Camcar Textron product Torx ttap Torx internal drive featuring an additional pilot hole intended to improve tool alignment and screw "stick-on" Licensed Camcar Textron product Pentalobular Features an internal 5 lobe design. Typically used as a tamper-resistant screw in electronics. Frearson (Reed and Prince) Also referred to as "ANSI Type II Cross Recess." Appears similar to phillips, but has a pointed tip with larger angle to the tip. Often found in marine hardware. ASME B18.6.1 Slotted Tamperproof Often incorrectly referred to as a "Clutch-head." Functions as a slotted screw for installation, but has ramps to cause cam-out, preventing easy removal. Spanner Spanner-type 2-hole screw used in tamper-resistant applications. Tri-Eye Drive Spanner-type 3-hole screw used in tamper-resistant applications. Tri-Wing Used in high-volume automotive and electronics assembly. Large, flat recess faces offer good torque application. Design offers some degree of tamper-resistance, as a normal flat blade screwdriver cannot engage. Licensed Phillips Screw Company product Trilobular Recess (TP3) Typically used in tamperproof applications. Cannot be engaged with flat blade screwdriver. Licensed Tamperproof Screw Company product. LOX Recess Proprietary design intended to improve drive contact area. Mainly used for deck and construction framing screws. Licensed Brad Wagner product Pentagon Recess Used in electronics and automotive as a tamper-resistant screw. 8-point (Double Square) Recess Typically used for trailer and shipping container construction. Sometimes used in sheetmetal applications and automotive applications. Drive consists of two square drives superimposed at 45º. 12-Point (Double Hexagon) Recess Typically used in automotive applications. Drive consists of two hexagonal drives superimposed at 30º. Points form 120º angles. 12-point (Triple Square) Recess Typically used in automotive applications. Drive consists of three square drives superimposed at 30º. Points form 90º angles. Polydrive Spline drive featuring 6 flat splines with slightly rounded ends. Primarily used in automotive critical fasteners. Licensed Brugola OEB product 4-Spline Internal Uncommon head design for high torque application. GB 824 6-Spline Internal Uncommon head design for high torque application. ASME B18.3.1M 12-Spline Internal Uncommon head design for high torque application. Clutch (Type G) Introduced in the 1930s as an improvement to a standard slotted screw. It is recessed and captures the ends of the driver bit to prevent slippage, and allows more applied torque without damaging the driver tool. Used primarily in the automotive and RV industries until the 1970s. Clutch (Type A) An improved version of Clutch Type G screws using a center relief to better align and center the driver. Used primarily in the automotive and RV industries until the 1970s. Hexagon Common 6-point head type. Referenced and included in many standards. ISO 4014 ASME B18.2.1 Square Used for large machine bolts or screws. Large contact area allows easy installation or removal with open-ended wrenches. ASME B18.2.3.10M ASME B18.2.1 12-Point (Double Hexagon) External Uses a 12-point head design where each point is 120°. Found in automotive and other applications, usually with high strength materials. ASME B18.2.5M IFI-115 12-point (Triple Square) External Uses a 12-point head design where each point is 90°. Found in automotive and other applications, usually with high strength materials. 8-point (Double Square) External Uses a 8-point (double square) head design where each point is 90°. Found in automotive and other applications, usually with high strength materials. External Torx/Hexalobular Primarily used in automotive and ATV applications. Allows installation with good load distibution while maintaining low clearance requirements. DIN 34800 Hexagon Slot Combo Bolts and screws are available with many different combinations of internal or external drive type, including square/slot, hexalobular/slot, hexagonal/slot, etc, etc. These may be contained within many specifications. ASME B18.6.3 Pentagon Head type typically used for water and gas valves. 5-sided design prevents engagement from 6-, 12-, or 2-sided wrenches. Head/drive size is measured from flat on one side to the point on the opposite side. This Technical Data Sheet is intended as a guide only! It is recommended that the relevant standards are reviewed in case this TDS contains errors or omissions.