An overview of self-drilling screws and self-tapping screws
One of the most often used industrial fasteners is self-tapping screws. Self-tapping screws were one of the first engineered fastener products, made of hardened steel, and its use fueled the Industrial Revolution. Self-tapping screws come in a variety of designs and varieties, each designed for a unique fastening function. Unlike aerospace or military fasteners, the terminology employed in the commercial fastener industry can be vague and cause confusion. The distinction between a self tapping screw and a self drilling screw is a good example of this imprecision. A self-tapping screw is more appropriately defined as a tapping screw, although it is also commonly referred to as a sheet metal screw due to its widespread use in the sheet metal industry. It is so named because it contains form mating threads in a pre-drilled hole into which they are driven, regardless of the name. A self-drilling screw has a drill point and is a form of self-tapping screws. In a single action, the sharp dr