Micro Screw Series and Automation Feeding Packaging Introduction

Micro Screw Series and Automation Feeding Packaging Introduction

Electronic products keep shrinking, and internal assemblies demand smaller, more consistent screws. Phones, TWS earbuds, smart watches, camera modules, sensors and consumer housings rely heavily on micro sizes M1.2, M1.4, M1.6, M2, M2.3, M2.6 and M3. Though tiny, these screws decide assembly yield and reliability, so every stage—material, machining and feeding—needs strict control.

Jiali Hardware has long produced this size range with multi-station cold headers and precision thread rolling, supporting tape-reel packaging and automated driving for consumer and automotive electronics. The series is explained below by size/thread, material/finish, head/drive, packaging/feeding and batch control.

Size Range and Common Thread Types

Micro screws split into machine threads (M series) and self-tapping (ST series). Machine threads mate with metal inserts, clinching nuts or tapped holes, typically held to 6g tolerance for stable, reusable engagement; self-tapping screws cut or form their own mating in plastic bosses or thin sheet, common in ST1.4, ST1.7, ST2.0, ST2.2 and ST2.6 for plastic housings and panels.

Self-tapping points come as pointed, flat and gimlet: pointed locates fast, flat suits depth-limited holes, and gimlet cuts harder plastics. Point choice depends on boss hole, wall thickness and driving method; pitch and flank angle (60° or 55°) must match the drawing.

The same size comes fully or partially threaded—partial threads keep a shank for fixed-thickness stacks. Pitch, flank angle and thread length on the drawing drive die and roll design; every detail is checked before production to avoid batch errors.

Common Materials and Finishes

Material choice decides rust resistance, conductivity and strength. SUS304 is standard for general and electronics use; SUS316 with molybdenum resists chloride, acid and humid environments for coastal, medical and marine sites; heat-treated SUS410 gives higher hardness for wear and strength.

Carbon-steel micro screws use 1018, 1022 or SWRCH22A with nickel, zinc or color-zinc plating. Nickel balances conductivity and rust protection—most common in electronics, with thickness affecting contact resistance and salt spray; zinc is low-cost for indoor use. Non-magnetic stainless or brass serves degaussed areas.

Finishes change friction and torque, so driving torque is corrected per coating. Special needs—degaussing, insulation, high temperature—should be confirmed early to avoid late material changes.

Head and Drive Configurations

Common heads are pan, truss, countersunk, semi-countersunk and washer-head. Truss and washer heads spread load best on plastic housings to prevent cracking and sinking; countersunk and semi-countersunk suit flush or recessed surfaces; pan is simple and general.

Phillips recess with H or Z bits is standard; socket, torx and tamper drives are options. Recess depth and width tolerances follow standards—too shallow slips, too deep weakens the head—and automated driving demands tight recess consistency.

Head choice balances tool access, appearance and torque transfer: low heads for tight spaces, countersunk for looks, and socket or torx when higher torque is needed.

Packaging and Automated Feeding

Micro screws ship in bulk or tape & reel. Bulk suits small batches and manual assembly at low packaging cost; tape & reel aligns screws in carrier pockets for vibratory-bowl or tape feeders with stable orientation, avoiding jams, misorientation and scratches.

Tape pitch, hole size, cover-tape spec and peeling can be customized to customer machines. High-volume lines prefer tape-reel with counters and torque feedback to record each screw's driving curve for full traceability.

For bowl feeding, head shape and center of gravity affect orientation stability; feeding tests with the supplier confirm batch consistency and efficiency.

Batch Consistency and Custom Service

Batch consistency is critical: head diameter, thread OD, recess depth and surface must be stable or automated lines face stripping, floating and incomplete seating. Jiali records material heat numbers and inspection data per batch, using first-article and in-process sampling.

Jiali supports drawing-based customization—special heads, threads, pre-applied locker, specified materials and finishes—with short sample lead times for validation and stable mass supply afterward.

Contact Jiali Hardware for micro screw samples, tape-reel spec confirmation or automated assembly advice.