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How do self-tapping screws form threads in a material?
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Self-tapping screws create mating threads in materials such as metal, plastic, or wood by using one of two primary methods when driven into a pilot hole:12
- Material Displacement: Some self-tapping screws form threads by displacing the material adjacent to the pilot hole, causing it to flow around the screw's helical rib.12
- Material Removal: Thread-cutting tapping screws feature specialized cutting edges and chip cavities. These components produce a mating thread by physically removing material as the screw is driven into the hole.1