Military Screws — Machine, Socket Head & Set Screws
Military screws span the full range from precision machine screws in avionics enclosures to high-torque socket head cap screws in structural joints and setscrews locating rotating machinery — every configuration governed by its own dedicated federal or military specification, manufactured and exported to customers across 40+ countries.
Military Screws We Manufacture
Head style and drive geometry determine torque capability, clearance requirements, and installation method.
Machine Screws
Slotted, cross-recessed, or hex head, lighter-duty fasteners typically paired with a nut for electronics, panel, and general assembly work.
Socket Head Cap Screws
Internal hex or spline drive recess allows high installation torque in confined or recessed spaces where an external wrench can't reach.
Set Screws
Headless fasteners driven fully into a tapped hole to locate shafts, collars, or gears without a protruding head interfering with rotating assemblies.
Overview: How Military Screw Specifications Are Organized
Because "screw" covers such a wide range of fastener geometries, the federal specification family splits the category by head and drive style: FF-S-85 covers slotted and hex head cap screws, FF-S-86 covers socket-head cap screws (one of the most actively revised specs in the entire family, with a new revision as recently as 2025), and FF-S-92 covers slotted, cross-recessed, or hex head machine screws. Buyers outside the U.S. searching for this hardware often use the terms "cap screws," "setscrews," or "MIL-SPEC fasteners" interchangeably — Ananka manufactures and exports under all of these designations to customers in the Oil & Gas, Power, Nuclear, Marine, Aerospace, and Defense sectors.
Setscrews get their own dedicated pair of specifications — FF-S-200 for hexagon and spline socket-drive headless setscrews, and FF-S-210 for square head and slotted headless configurations. Point style matters as much as head style: cup points (recommended wherever practical) bite into the mating shaft for strong holding power, while flat or half-dog points avoid marring hardened or finished surfaces.
For the bolts and nuts these screws are often specified alongside, see Ananka's military bolts and military nuts categories.
- Self-tapping and wood screws are covered separately under FF-S-107 and FF-S-111 respectively — both now inactive for new design but retained for legacy replacement work.
- Material and finish selection follows the same logic as bolts: alloy steel for general strength, CRES for corrosion resistance, and nickel superalloys for high-temperature service.
Which Screw Family Do You Need?
Applicable Standards
Explore the individual military screw specifications Ananka manufactures to.
Compliance & Sourcing References
Verify the governing FF-S and MIL-DTL specifications through official government sources.
Free specification text for the federal screw standards above is available through the Defense Logistics Agency's ASSIST QuickSearch portal. NSN cross-references and procurement history can be checked via DLA DIBBS. Ananka Fasteners manufactures to the current active revision of whichever standard your drawing calls out — including FF-S-86, which has seen recent revisions — and supplies full Mill Test Certification with every shipment worldwide.
Military Screws — Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a cap screw and a machine screw?
A cap screw is designed to be driven directly into a tapped hole with a larger, more precisely controlled head bearing surface for higher clamp loads. A machine screw is typically lighter-duty and often paired with a separate nut.
Which point style should a setscrew use?
Cup point is recommended wherever practical for the strongest holding power. Flat or half-dog points are used on hardened shafts or where marring the mating surface is a concern.
Can screws have a self-locking feature?
Yes — MIL-DTL-18240 covers self-locking thread elements (strip or patch configurations) applied directly to a bolt or screw's threads as an alternative to lock-wiring, for service up to 250°F.
Does Ananka Fasteners export military screws internationally?
Yes — Ananka manufactures and exports FF-S and MIL-DTL screws to customers across 40+ countries in the Oil & Gas, Power, Nuclear, Marine, Aerospace, and Defense sectors, with subsidiary support entities in the UK and USA.
Need Military Screws to Print?
Ananka Fasteners manufactures military screws to federal and military specifications with full material traceability and Mill Test Certification on every lot.
Prefer email? sales@anankafasteners.com
