Micro Screws
Thread-forming and thread-cutting screws for plastics and thin sheet metal
M0.6 – M4 · Micro Screws Overview
Self-tapping screws remove a process step: no tapping, no inserts, no adhesive. In miniature plastic housings they are often the only practical way to close a part, because the boss wall may be thinner than the insert that would otherwise be required. The trade-off is that the screw now has to cut or form its own thread without splitting the boss, stripping under drive torque or leaving stress marks on a visible surface.
We engineer the point, thread flank and minor diameter together with the boss geometry. For plastics we recommend thread-forming screws with a 30° or 45° point and a relatively large minor diameter, paired with a boss diameter of roughly 1.8–2.2× the screw diameter. For thin sheet metal we produce thread-cutting screws with a slotted or slotted-point tip that clears the chip. Both types are available with undercut heads for flush seating in soft material.
Diameter range
M0.6 – M4
Types
Thread-forming (plastic), thread-cutting (sheet metal)
Point styles
30° / 45° cone, blunt, slotted, slotted-point (Type 23 / Type 25)
Length range
2.0 mm – 40 mm
Length tolerance
±0.10 mm
Recommended boss Ø
1.8 – 2.2 × screw diameter
Design intent
Six engineering decisions that separate a micro fastener that works from one that merely fits the drawing.
Point angle, tip relief and thread start are tuned to the boss diameter and resin so the screw starts straight and forms rather than tears the thread.
A wider root radius and controlled flank angle reduce hoop stress in glass-filled nylon and polycarbonate bosses.
An undercut beneath the head captures displaced plastic, letting the head seat flush without a visible witness ring.
Slotted and slotted-point tips cut a clean thread in 0.4–1.2 mm steel and aluminium sheet with minimal deformation.
We publish recommended driving and stripping torque per size and material so your assembly line can set the driver clutch correctly.
Painted or PVD-coated heads can be matched to the housing colour where the fastener is visible on the product exterior.
Technical data
Reference data for design and sourcing. For a specific part, the drawing governs — these tables are the starting point for a joint review.
| Size | Pilot hole (mm) | Boss Ø (mm) | Drive torque (N·m) | Strip torque (N·m) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M0.6 | 0.45 – 0.50 | 1.2 | 0.02 | 0.04 | Micro speaker grilles |
| M0.8 | 0.60 – 0.66 | 1.5 | 0.04 | 0.08 | Earbud housings |
| M1.0 | 0.75 – 0.82 | 1.9 | 0.07 | 0.13 | Wearable cases |
| M1.2 | 0.90 – 0.98 | 2.3 | 0.11 | 0.20 | Camera housings |
| M1.4 | 1.05 – 1.15 | 2.7 | 0.16 | 0.28 | Small appliance shells |
| M1.6 | 1.20 – 1.30 | 3.0 | 0.22 | 0.40 | Notebook bezels |
| M2.0 | 1.50 – 1.62 | 3.8 | 0.40 | 0.75 | Router and hub cases |
| M2.5 | 1.88 – 2.00 | 4.8 | 0.75 | 1.40 | Control boxes |
| M3.0 | 2.25 – 2.40 | 5.8 | 1.30 | 2.40 | Appliance panels |
| M4.0 | 3.00 – 3.20 | 7.6 | 2.80 | 5.00 | HVAC covers |
Values are typical for the stated material and finish. Actual performance depends on the mating material, engagement length and assembly torque. Confirm with a sample test before design freeze.
Options
Mix these within one part number family. Where a combination is not manufacturable at your tolerance, we will say so at quotation rather than after the first lot.
Where it is used
Representative positions rather than an exhaustive list. Many of our parts are designed for one specific assembly and never appear in a catalogue.
| Assembly | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Earbuds and hearables | M0.6–M0.8 thread-forming screws into PC/ABS shell halves |
| Smart speakers | M1.6–M2.0 screws into glass-filled nylon bosses |
| Notebook bottom covers | M2.0 thread-forming screws with low-head profile |
| Router and set-top boxes | M2.5–M3.0 screws into moulded ABS posts |
| Sheet metal brackets | M3.0–M4.0 thread-cutting screws in 0.8–1.2 mm CRS |
| Robot cosmetic covers | M2.0 colour-matched screws on external shells |
Quality control
Inspection is not a final gate. It is a set of checks placed where a process can actually drift, with the result recorded against the lot code.
01
Point angle and tip concentricity, optical comparator
02
Thread profile, toolmaker microscope
03
Driving and strip torque, torque tester on production resin
04
Boss crack inspection after drive, 20× magnification
05
Head diameter and undercut depth
06
Hardness, HV 0.3
07
Coating thickness, X-ray fluorescence
08
Salt spray where corrosion resistance is specified
Questions
The questions our engineers answer most often on this product family.
Related products
These families are frequently used in the same assembly, or as an alternative when the joint requirement changes.
Micro Screws · M0.5 – M6
Precision machine screws from M0.5 to M6 with rolled Class 6g threads, tight head concentricity and clean drive recesses for automated driving.
Precision Components · M1 – M6
Brass and stainless threaded inserts that give plastic parts a durable metal thread — heat-set, moulded-in, ultrasonic and press-fit versions from M1 to M6.
Micro Screws · M0.8 – M6
Screws with a factory-applied locking or sealing element, so the assembly line receives a ready-to-drive fastener with no liquid adhesive and no cure time.
Specialties · 0.05 – 1.5 mm strip
Progressive-die stamped parts from 0.05 to 1.5 mm strip — contacts, spring clips, EMI shields and mounting brackets produced alongside our screw lines.
Send a drawing or 3D model with the mating material and finish requirement. We reply with a process route, tolerance review and price — usually within two working days.