Got me to wondering...why Torx on anything?Abraham wrote:Why are they so popular on things gun...?
Why not use a standard phillips head or slot head screw?
I don't get it...?
Per Wikipedia
There is no citation for this, but the entry in Wikipedia does have a link to the patent for Torx here: http://www.google.com/patents/US3584667" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;By design, Torx head screws resist cam-out better than Phillips head or slot head screws. Where Phillips heads were designed to cause the driver to cam out, to prevent overtightening, Torx heads were designed to prevent cam-out. The reason for this was the development of better torque-limiting automatic screwdrivers for use in factories. Rather than rely on the tool slipping out of the screw head when a torque level is reached, thereby risking damage to the driver tip, screw head and/or workpiece, the newer driver design achieves a desired torque consistently. The manufacturer claims this can increase tool bit life by ten times or more.[citation needed]
The Torx design allows for a higher torque to be exerted than a similarly-sized conventional hex socket head without damaging the head and/or the tool. The diagram on the right depicts the interaction between the male and female components of a conventional hex drive and a Torx drive. The clearance between the components is exaggerated for clarity. The diagram does not show a true Torx profile, but illustrates the general shape and geometry.
I think all that means you can crank a Torx screw down mo' betta with much less risk of boogering up the screw head.
