DRIVING METHODS
The drive on a fastener is the feature through which rotational torque is applied. All threaded fasteners will have a drive feature or will have a retention feature to prevent rotation whilst the mating part is rotated - eg: a nut.
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SKETCH |
DRIVE TYPE |
USES |
TOOLS |
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SLOT | Commonly found on woodscrews and machine screws in domestic applications or where field retightening or removal may be required. Most suitable for hand operated tools. Oldest and simplest drive form. |
Flat bladed common screwdriver. |
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PHILLIPS RECESS (Type 1) (X-Recess) (Cross-Recess) |
Commonly found on self tapping screws and machine screws, particularly where they can be power assembled eg: on a production line for domestic appliances. | Ideal for power operated tools and hand tools. |
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POZIDRIVE RECESS (Type II or IA) (X-Recess) |
As above, but is less prone to 'cam out' when drive tools are worn. | Power operated Pozidrive ools and Pozidrive hand tools. |
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Combination (Phillips Recess & Slot) (X-Recess or Slot) |
Most commonly found on mush head roofing screws and machine screws, allowing for power driven assembly and field removal or adjustment by common blade screwdrivers. | Power operated drive tools and hand tools, flat slot or cross recess. |
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CLUTCH (One Way) (Jail Head) |
Security applications usually on self-tappers, woodscrews or machine screws, eg: domestic window locks, jail cell hinges, door lock exposed screws. Declining popularity. |
Conventional flat blade screwdriver to tighten. Cannot be easily removed without drilling and using a special removal tool. |
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EYE DRIVE (Snake Eyes)® |
Security applications, usually on self-tapping screws or machine screws where high assembly torque is not required, eg: into plastics. | Special hand screwdriver with 2-pin blade. |
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TRI-EYE DRIVE (3 Pin Drive) |
As above. Also seen on golf shoe spikes or plastic inserts. |
Special hand driver with 3-pin drive. |
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TRI-WING | Security applications usually confined to screw products, particularly in aircraft, public transport fittings and electrical appliances where fieldwork should only be carried out by authorised service personnel. | Special 3-bladed drivers both power and hand. |
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HEXAGON RECESS | Principally used in high torque applications such as automotive, heavy equipment, tool die sets. Commonly associated with cap screws. (Also comes as square recess). |
Hexagon socket key (Allen key) and hexagon power drivers. |
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HEXAGON | The most common drive on bolt products - very versatile in drive torque range; economical to produce. | Hand driven ring and open ended spanners, hand or power driven with socket drivers. |
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12-POINT (Double Hexagon) |
Usually associated with a flange head and in high torque applications where there is a restriction on head size or where space limits hexagon driving tools eg: inside a recess. | 12-point socket driver. In some circumstances a ring spanner could be used. |
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INTERNAL TORX® | Gives very high driving torque capability with low risk of 'cam out'. Usually found in high production applications, particularly automotive and appliance industries. Usually restricted to screw products. |
Normally power driven with special drive bits or hand driven with a torx® key. |
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EXTERNAL TORX® | As with 12-point, usually associated with a flange head. Very high driving torque capability. Often found in automotive and aircraft engine applications. Usually restricted to bolt products. |
Normally power driven with special drive sockets. Occasionally by hand with tension wrench and special sockets. |
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SQUARE | Declining usage. Was often used in timber bridgework and where larger driving surface was required. Still used in a small version on square drive cap screws. | Hand driven with open-ended spanner or adjustable shifter. |
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HEXAGON SLOT COMBINATION |
Usually associated with screw products. Is useful where it can be power driven on the assembly line and removed or adjusted in service with a blade screwdriver. Usually head is indent hex and sometimes x-recess is also added. | Power driven with hexagon socket. Hand adjusted with blade screwdriver. |
| In addition to the clutch, eye drive and tri-wing security drives depicted, many of the recess type drives can be manufactured with a central post to prevent the entry of a conventional driving tool. | This is most common with hexagon recess and internal torx and would normally be confined to head styles that resist grasping with pliers or multigrips.
At best, most security products and products incorporating central posts can be classified as tamper resistant rather than tamper proof. |
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