What is Break Away or Shear Nuts

What is Break Away or Shear Nuts? Uses, Dimensions and Properties

Have you ever been in the middle of a project, only to find your screwdriver rounds off the head of the nut before it has been properly tightened? This is an extremely common problem that can be solved by using breakaway or shear nuts. In this blog post, we will discuss what breakaway or shear nuts are and how they can help you complete your projects faster and easier.

What Is Break Away or Shear Nuts?

Breakaway or shear nuts are special nuts designed to prevent overtightening. These nuts feature a built-in breaking point that can be unscrewed after reaching a predetermined torque setting. This ensures that the nut cannot be overtightened and damaged beyond repair.

How Do They Work?

Breakaway or shear nuts have two components: a steel shell and an internal nylon insert. The steel shell provides strength, while the nylon insert prevents overtightening by preventing further tightening after reaching its pre-set torque level. When this torque level is reached, the nylon insert fractures and breaks away from the steel shell, leaving just enough of the nut remaining so it can still be unscrewed. This makes it easy to disassemble parts without worrying about damaging them with too much force.

Why Should I Use Them?

Breakaway or shear nuts are ideal for applications where precise tensioning is required, such as in electrical wiring boxes, switch boxes, and other enclosures where you don’t want to risk overtightening a screw or nut. They also provide greater safety than traditional nuts because they make it easier to loosen screws without the risk of causing damage due to excessive force. Also, breakaway or shear nuts are reusable since their nylon inserts can be replaced.

Shear Nuts Properties

  • A breakaway or shear nut is a fastener designed to break under a certain amount of torque or force.
  • These nuts are often used in important applications to prevent over-tightening, such as in electronics or plumbing.
  • Breakaway or shear nuts are also used in some safety applications, such as in car seats, where it is important that the nut breaks if too much force is applied during a collision.
  • Breakaway or shear nuts are typically made from brittle material, such as plastic, so they will easily break when the desired force is applied.
  • These nuts are available in various sizes and styles to suit different applications.

Break Away or Shear Nuts Dimensions

Break Away or Shear Nuts Dimensions

Metric Technical Information
Bright Zinc Plated A2 & A4 Stainless Steel Galvanised
AF B C D AF B C D AF B C D
M4 N/A N/A N/A N/A 7.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
M5 N/A N/A N/A N/A 8.0 – 10.0 9.8 N/A 4.7 – 6.3 N/A N/A N/A N/A
M6 14.0 13.9 0.5 7.2 10.0 – 13.0 9.8 – 12.8 N/A 5.5 – 6.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A
M8 16.0 15.8 0.5 7.6 13.0 – 17.0 12.8 – 16.8 N/A 6.0 – 8.0 17.0 16.8 N/A 7.2
M10 19.0 18. 1.0 8.8 17.0 – 19.0 16.8 – 18.8 N/A 7.5 – 10.0 19.0 18.9 N/A 9.2
M12 22.0 21.9 1.0 9.9 19.0 – 22.0 18.6 – 21.8 N/A 8.0 – 10.5 22.0 21.9 N/A 9.2
M14 N/A N/A N/A N/A 22.0 21.8 N/A 9.0 – 12.5 N/A N/A N/A N/A
M16 24.0 23.8 1.0 11.5 24.0 23.8 – 24.0 N/A 10.5 – 15.0 24.0 23.8 N/A 11.5
M20 32.0 31.8 2.8 19.0 30.0 29.7 – 30.0 N/A 18.0 – 19.0 32.0 31.8 2.9 18.8
M24 36.0 38.0 2.6 16.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 36.0 38.0 2.6 16.0

Conclusion:

Breakaway or shear nuts are an excellent choice for any project requiring precise tensioning. They provide greater safety than traditional nuts since they prevent users from overtightening screws and making them difficult to remove when needed. Additionally, they are reusable due to their replaceable nylon inserts, which makes them cost-effective in the long run! If you’re looking for an easy way to ensure that your projects are safe and secure, then break away, or shear nuts may be worth considering!

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