The Nuts and Bolts of it: What is the Purpose of a Threaded Fastener?

Industrial fastener suppliers specialise in providing the essential components that keep machinery and structures together. To most people, this means nuts, bolts, screws, and rivets – small but vital parts available in hardware stores. However, higher-grade fasteners are required in industrial and load-bearing applications where strength and reliability are critical. In these situations, thread design plays a key role in durability, safety, and performance.

For anyone asking “what is the purpose of a threaded fastener?” – the answer is simple: to firmly join two items together and keep them secure until intentionally released. Threaded fasteners are also commonly used to maintain seals or ensure constant contact between conductive materials.

Because applications can vary widely, it’s important to consult experienced industrial fastener suppliers for advice on the correct fastener type and grade for your project.

Key Threaded Fastener Terminology

Understanding the basic terminology helps when selecting or discussing threaded fasteners:

• Crests (Peaks): The raised part of the thread.
• Roots (Troughs): The inner portion of the thread between crests.
• Major Diameter: Measured across the crests of a thread.
• Minor Diameter: Measured across the roots of a thread.
• Thread Depth: Distance from crest to root.
• Pitch: Distance between two adjacent crests.
• Thread Angle: The angle formed between a crest and root.
• Coarse Thread: Larger pitch, fewer threads per length.
• Fine Thread: Smaller pitch, more threads per length.

Factors to Consider in Fastener Selection

Thread type, pitch, and torque capacity all influence fastener performance:

• Coarse threads are versatile and widely used, providing quick assembly and strength in softer materials.
• Fine threads allow more precise adjustments, hold better under vibration, and resist loosening.
• Torque requirements should match the material strength – fine threads often allow greater tightening force without stripping.

Why Thread Design Matters in Load-Bearing Applications

In structural or safety-critical projects, correct fastener selection is non-negotiable. Standards Australia provides regulations for fastener quality and compatibility, ensuring reliability across industries. Matching nuts and bolts precisely is crucial – modern engineering achieves extremely fine tolerances, making mismatched or substandard fasteners unacceptable.

Thread design directly impacts the fastener’s ability to withstand stress, vibration, and environmental conditions, which is why compliance with standards is essential in construction, infrastructure, and machinery.

Choosing the Right Industrial Fastener Supplier

A trusted supplier should provide:

• A wide variety of threaded fasteners – nuts, bolts, screws, and washers – plus related products such as sealants.
• Experience across multiple industries to recommend the right fasteners for specific applications.
• Stock that complies with Australian Standards for durability and safety.

While alternatives like rivets, adhesives, welding, and clamps have their uses, threaded fasteners remain unmatched in versatility and reusability. Their ability to be undone when needed provides flexibility and reliability that other fastening methods cannot match.

At Bricon Industries, we supply premium threaded fasteners for projects of all sizes. Explore our full range to find the right solution for your construction or industrial needs.