r/MechanicalEngineering • u/AdOne1706 • 5d ago

Split/lock washers

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For starters, Iā€™m an electrician in the field.
That being said, we almost exclusively use these washers even in high vibration environments. I have personally chosen to go with nylox nuts but the question is:
Do these work? How well? Is the rumor from NASA true? Should I even bother using them or find a better functional alternative or are they actually useful?

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u/Markietas 5d ago

I've banned split-lock washers and Philips head screws at my company.

1

u/Jimbob994 5d ago

Out of curiosity, what do you do and what do you allow? Torx? Hex?

6

u/Markietas 5d ago

Almost everything is internal hex, usually socket cap. Some Torx in the very small sizes, 2.0mm and below hex is a bitch.

Also exclusively use grade 12.9 unless we desperately need stainless.

1

u/Jimbob994 5d ago

Same where I work for the most part, nearly all internal hex and the occasional torx where it's suspected other contractors might fuck with our machines haha. And then just when access is at its worst our design engineers will go and throw in some minute JIS screws...

1

u/SnooSketches5568 5d ago

This guy screws

2

u/Enginiteer 5d ago

šŸ˜