The screw, nuts, and bolt markets have seen a lot of changes in the kinds of products that consumers buy. Over the years, fastener manufacturers have been coming up with unique customized products. Why is this happening? Because they know that consumers have different needs and they want unique screws to fulfill those needs.

Which thread-locking mechanism is ideal for your micro fasteners? Is copper or steel a perfect option for your custom screw options? These are some of the questions that most product assembly technicians ask when looking for fastener options. The global market of micro fasteners is massive, but how can you get the best of what you’re seeking?

This post highlights some of the essential factors that you’ll need to consider when buying micro fasteners for your assembly project. Understanding the primary features of the micro screws that you seek will better and quicken your sourcing process.

For example, custom manufactured micro screws come in different sizes and shapes to meet the various needs of consumers. If you have been looking for the best fastening solutions, you may want to check out the various products that reputable suppliers can offer. But how can you determine whether the supplier is trustworthy or that the products they carry will align with your requirements? Here is a look at some of the factors to consider when looking for the best supplier.

Look For Screws with Washers

When you want to build a custom fastener, you should think of ways to make the screws stronger. One of the best ways of doing so is by using washers. You will notice that although some fasteners come with one washer, others come with several because some machines may need a stronger bond than others. Therefore, before you buy custom screws, ask the supplier about the number of washers that they come with and to what extent they will make your machines stronger.

What’s the Coating Material of Your Micro Screws?

Corrosion quickens the wear of micro fasteners and makes the fastened components loose. But with a proper coating, your micro screws experience less wear and tear. Some linings also make your screws more appealing, and this is ideal for decorative miniature screws.

You may choose to buy chrome-plated or zinc plated screws. Chrome-plated screws have a corrosion-resistant and decorative polished finish. These screws are ideal for components that need high-quality polished finishes. The zinc-plated micro fasteners have improved resistance to corrosion under most environments.

Ask For Screws with Locking Patches

Custom manufactured micro screws are likely to be of better quality when they come with locking pieces. Most manufacturers use nylon threads to coat the external and internal threads. When the coat is applied, it creates a self-locking mechanism on the screws, and this makes them fasten better. Custom fasteners are made using different threads based on the kinds of situations under which they will be used. You may want to talk to the supplier to find out what they can do based on your needs.

Which Material is Ideal for Your Micro Fasteners?

The material that makes up micro screws determines the micro fasteners’ cost, brittleness, strength, and corrosion resistance. Approximately 90% of the micro screws in the market are manufactured from stainless steel. Steel is a preferred material for micro screws because it has a high degree of formability, durability, and strength.

Bronze and brass alloys have considerable corrosion resistance, which makes them ideal for marine engineering. But bronze is expensive, and that is why it’s used in marine works. Aluminum is also a common material used in making corrosion-resistant micro screws. Aluminum is also light-weight and ideal for parts that shouldn’t get heavy.

What’s the Size of Your Preferred Micro Screws?

Screws differ in size, which is a conventional screw differentiating factor for these micro fasteners. Manufacturers of screws make capabilities in specific screw size ranges such as the M5 and smaller or M6 and larger screw sizes.  

Inquire About the Screws Suited to Your Size Specifications  

Manufacturing screws to the correct value is another crucial factor to consider when buying custom manufactured micro screws. Sometimes, you will notice that fasteners are too small or too big. When they are big, it means that you will have to use a lot of force to fix them. The result is that they will be prone to breakage. On the other hand, screws that are too small are likely to be weak no matter how much you fix them. It is for these reasons that you should talk to the supplier so that they understand the correct values for your needs. The best suppliers have several custom screw options.

What Screw Features Do You Want?

There are many kinds of industrial micro fasteners in the market with diverse applications. For instance, different types of screws may have different heads, sizes, threading, and thread-locking mechanisms. Each type of head and thread-locking method determines the kind of purpose your screw will serve.

As such, you have to choose your micro screws based on their different physical features. You may also opt to customize your micro fasteners to suit your unique needs. Custom screws are ideal when off-the-shelf options can’t fulfill your needs.

Search For a Variety of Plastic Thread Forming Screws

If you want custom manufactured micro screws to have more holding power, you should look for a variety of thread forming screws. You should ensure that you have several fastener options because different types of screws need different types of fastening options. When using the fasteners, you will notice that some of them are easier to drive, but others are not because there is a difference in the size of threads. It is good to ask the suppliers for narrow or broader threads based on what you want to do with the fasteners.

What's Your Micro Fastener Source?

You can source your tiny screws from a screw manufacturer or a screw distributor. The latter is often the preferred option when looking for diversified types of screws and large volume orders. But when looking for a wider variety of fasteners in the low volume range, then it is advisable to buy from a distributor.

Unlike manufacturers who may fail to give quotes on small volumes of micro screws, your distributor can provide quotes for any quantity of screws. Sourcing from a distributor is also beneficial when you’re looking for screws from different manufacturers.

Identify the Best Manufacturers and Suppliers

Identifying the right screw supplier involves looking at the kinds of customers that use their services. For instance, the best manufacturers are those that have a broad customer base. If they are supplying to some of the largest custom manufacturers, you can count on them to provide enough screws. Imagine a situation where you need 100 piece packages of screws. In such a case, you will be looking for suppliers with the capacity to deliver large quantities.