With all this talk of the world’s smallest snowman, I’ve decided to show you a few of the electron micrographs that I’ve taken of a #2-56 machine screw.
A few weeks ago, to better familiarize myself with a new scanning electron microscope, I had decided to take a look at a machine screw before moving to the specimens of interest. The head off the screw was sheared off with a very dull pair of side cutting pliers.
Please bear in mind that these images were only taken as quick practice and have been cropped and slightly compressed for web viewing.
Single Thread Closeup – Notice the Coating Defect
Closeup of Coating Defect (50,000X Magnification)
Closeup of Sheared Screw Head
Closeup of Rougher Section of Scraped Surface
the best post ever here! love to see it man.
how about a future comparison of bolts of certain grades and suppliers to see what you’re getting on a finish/tolerance level at least for your money. that’s some fun shiz
Thanks!
While I would absolutely LOVE to compare bolts, fasteners, screwdriver tips, hex driver tips, torsionally-sheared hex driver ball ends, and many random things, the non-contract cost to use the equipment is $200 an hour.
Plus, the microscope is in heavy demand (by myself included) for legitimate uses. That’s also not to mention personal time constraints and the technical difficulties of examining very complex three-dimensional specimens.
That is freakin awesome. Even better, how about some picts of screwdrivers or wrenches cut in half. I would like to see what Snap on steel looks like under an electron microscope.
Now I’m going to scan some of my stuff. Oh wait, I don’t have an electron microscope…
Very enlightening, thank you!
I enjoy looking at useful specimens rather than the mundane.
You’re very welcome, I’m glad that you like the images!
It’s funny that you called this useful and not mundane. A colleague of mine thought I was strange to want to look at something “as normal as a screw” to warm up to the new machine.
Very enlightening. The roughness of the plating is a true eye opener.
If you can’t afford an electron microscope, try the Eyeclops
And in the spirit of tiny things, here is a mini creeper from Northern Tools.
Screws are like woah!
Yes, yes they are!!
Have you examined your chisel and knife edges to test your sharpening skills? That would be a cool article. What’s the best-quickest-easiest way to get a fine edge? Not samurai sword master edge, but quickest and best for shop use?
This particular machine is only equipped to handle small samples. That, and there is an operational cost of $100 per hour for unsanctioned use. So no, I haven’t examined chisel and knife edges, although that it something I’ve thought about.
In order to do so, the cutting edges would have to be removed from the tool after sharpening, something that might be difficult to do without marring the sharp edges.
There really is no “quickest” or “easiest” way to get a fine edge. For the best edge possible, precision and patience are required. Basically the cutting edge must be honed with progressively finer grits. You can use honing stones for this, or a grinding wheel, sand paper, lapping polishing wheels, etc.
I am not very experienced at tool sharpening, but if you google “quick way to sharpen a chisel”, you’ll find quite a few helpful guides.
AWESOME pics.. I know I would love to spend a day fooling around with bolts and what not.
@ $200 per hour, thats a little above my pay grade Cool post man!