Custom Fastener Manufacturing Services

Material selection depends on load requirements, operating environment, and corrosion exposure. Carbon steel is the most cost-effective choice for general commercial and industrial fasteners. Grades 5 and 8 provide higher tensile strength for structural applications.

Stainless steel 304 and 316 resist corrosion in outdoor and humid environments. 316 performs better in chloride-rich or marine applications. Both grades have lower tensile strength than heat-treated carbon steel, so strength-critical applications may require A286 or 17-4 PH.

For weight-sensitive applications, titanium Grade 5 provides strength comparable to Grade 8 steel at 40 percent less weight. Brass and aluminum fasteners are specified for electrical applications and non-magnetic requirements.

If you’re unsure which material to specify, our engineering team can recommend the right option during the DFM review based on your fastener’s operating conditions.

Cold heading is a metal-forming process that shapes fasteners at room temperature by striking a wire blank with progressive dies. The wire is cut to length, then forced into a series of die cavities that form the head, shank, and any recesses in sequence.

Unlike machining, cold heading does not remove material. The metal flows into the die shape, which preserves the grain structure and produces a stronger part than equivalent machined fasteners. Material waste is under 5 percent compared to 30 to 60 percent for machined fasteners.

Cold heading is the most cost-effective process for high-volume fastener production. Single strikes produce flat-head parts. Multi-stage heading (two to six blows) produces bolts, socket screws, and rivets with more complex head geometries.

The process is limited by blank diameter (typically 1 to 25 mm) and the maximum length-to-diameter ratio (around 5:1 for cold-formed shanks). Parts outside these ranges are produced by CNC turning or hot forging.

Yes. Fasteners accept a range of surface finishes, including zinc plating, hot-dip galvanizing, electroless nickel, black oxide, Dacromet, and passivation.

Zinc plating is the most common finish for commercial-grade steel fasteners. Standard plating thickness is 5 to 15 microns, providing 96 to 240 hours of salt spray resistance depending on chromate type.

Hot-dip galvanizing produces a thicker zinc coating (50 to 150 microns) for outdoor structural fasteners. Dacromet and Geomet zinc-flake coatings deliver 500 to 1,000 hours of salt spray resistance for automotive and wind energy applications.

For stainless steel fasteners, passivation is the standard post-processing step. It removes surface iron contamination and restores corrosion resistance per ASTM A967.

Fastener finish selection should match the operating environment, mating material, and any electrical or visual requirements. Plating adds to part diameter, so thread class and torque specifications should be reviewed with your supplier before production.

Custom fasteners are manufactured from a range of metals and alloys. The most common are carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and titanium.

Low-carbon steel (SAE 1006 to 1018) is cold-headed for commercial-grade bolts, screws, and rivets. Medium and alloy steels (SAE 1045, 4140, 8620) are used for heat-treated high-strength fasteners in Grades 5, 8, and 10.9.

Stainless Steel 304 and 316 handle corrosive environments. A2-70 and A4-80 are the ISO equivalents with defined tensile strength ratings. Martensitic grades 410 and 420 accept heat treatment for higher hardness.

Brass grades C2600 and C3600 are used for electrical fasteners and non-magnetic applications. Aluminum 7075-T6 produces lightweight aerospace fasteners. Titanium Grade 5 is specified for medical implants and critical aerospace components.

Material selection should match the fastener’s mechanical load, operating environment, and mating material. Our DFM review can identify the best material for your application before production starts.

We produce custom fasteners from 1.0 mm minimum diameter up to 36 mm. Length range is 2 mm to 2,000 mm depending on manufacturing process.

Cold heading covers diameters from 1.5 mm (M1.6) to 25 mm (M24), with lengths typically under 150 mm. This is the most cost-effective process for high-volume orders.

CNC turning and Swiss machining cover diameters from 1.0 mm to 50 mm with lengths up to 2 m. Use these processes for fasteners with stepped shanks, cross holes, non-standard threads, or tolerances tighter than cold heading can hold.

Thread range spans M1 to M36 in metric and #0-80 to 1-8 UNC in imperial. Custom thread forms including ACME, buttress, and trapezoidal are available through CNC turning.

Specify your required diameter, length, and thread early in the drawing review. These parameters determine the manufacturing process, tooling cost, and achievable tolerance.

Beyond the standard grades, custom fasteners can be produced in specialty alloys for specific performance requirements.

A286 (UNS S66286) is a precipitation-hardened stainless steel used in aerospace fasteners. It retains strength up to 700°C and resists oxidation. Common in engine, exhaust, and turbine applications.

17-4 PH stainless steel is heat-treated to tensile strengths over 1,200 MPa. Used for high-strength corrosion-resistant fasteners in marine, chemical processing, and oil and gas.

Inconel 718 and Monel 400 handle extreme temperatures and aggressive chemical environments. These nickel alloys are expensive and slow to machine but are specified when standard steels cannot meet operating conditions.

Titanium Grade 2 (commercially pure) and Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V) are used for medical implants, aerospace fasteners, and chemical equipment. Grade 5 provides 950 MPa tensile strength at half the weight of steel.

Specialty alloys increase cost and lead time. Confirm availability and minimum order quantities during the DFM review.

Dimensional accuracy depends on manufacturing process and fastener size. Modern CNC-controlled equipment delivers repeatable precision across production runs.

Cold-headed fasteners hold diameter tolerances of ±0.05 mm and length tolerances of ±0.1 mm. Head dimensions are typically ±0.1 mm on flats and ±0.05 mm on height.

CNC-turned fasteners hold ±0.02 mm on diameter and ±0.05 mm on length. Tighter tolerances down to ±0.01 mm are achievable with Swiss machining for small-diameter parts.

Thread accuracy depends on class. Class 6g/2A is standard for commercial fasteners. Class 4h/3A is available for precision applications. Every production run is inspected with GO and NO-GO ring and plug gauges.

To get the best accuracy from your supplier, provide clear tolerances on functional dimensions and flag which features are critical. Over-tolerancing every dimension increases cost without improving fastener performance.

Custom fastener production covers a range of processes that convert wire or bar stock into finished parts. Here are the primary processes available through most full-service fastener manufacturers.

1. Cold Heading: Progressive dies form the head, shank, and recesses from a wire blank. The most cost-effective process for volumes above 10,000 pieces. Diameter range 1.5 to 25 mm.

2. CNC Turning: Rotating bar stock is machined by cutting tools. Suitable for fasteners with complex geometries, unusual thread forms, or tolerances tighter than cold heading allows.

3. Swiss Machining: A variant of CNC turning for small-diameter, long, or precision parts. Used for miniature fasteners and medical screws with tolerances to ±0.01 mm.

4. Thread Rolling: Hardened dies form threads by cold displacement rather than cutting. Rolled threads are stronger than cut threads and produce no chips. Standard process for high-strength fasteners.

5. Wärmebehandlung: Quenching, tempering, carburizing, or induction hardening produces fasteners to specified strength grades (Grade 5, 8, Class 8.8, 10.9, 12.9).

6. Plating and Coating: Zinc, hot-dip galvanizing, electroless nickel, black oxide, Dacromet, and chrome plating applied after threading. Provides corrosion resistance and appearance.

7. Inspection and Testing: Dimensional inspection with CMM and thread gauges. Mechanical testing includes tensile, hardness, and torque-tension. Salt spray testing for plated fasteners.

A full-service manufacturer combines these processes under one roof, reducing lead times and eliminating the coordination overhead of managing multiple suppliers.