Our slotted cone point set screws (DIN 553) have a sharp ninety degree conical tip that penetrates the shaft and locates it permanently. The point sits into a matching spot drilled dimple or bites straight into softer material, giving the highest holding power of any standard set screw tip.

Slotted Set Screw Cone Point, Metric Sizes

What Is a Slotted Cone Point Set Screw?

A slotted cone point set screw is a headless fastener with a straight driving slot at one end and a sharp conical tip, normally ground to ninety degrees, at the other. It threads through a tapped hole in a collar, hub, or gear and drives its point into the shaft below, so the joint is held by mechanical penetration rather than friction alone. That makes it the strongest holding tip form in the standard range and the right pick when a component must be located once and stay put. Best practice is to spot drill a matching conical dimple in the shaft, which lets the point seat fully, sets the position exactly, and stops the collar creeping under load. The screw is made to DIN 553, and because the point permanently marks the shaft it belongs in setup once assemblies rather than parts that are adjusted regularly.

Key Features and Benefits

• Maximum Holding Power: The conical point penetrates the shaft surface for a mechanical lock, resisting far more axial and rotational load than friction only tips.
• Precise Permanent Location: Seated in a spot drilled dimple, the point fixes the component at an exact position that will not creep under vibration or load reversal.
• Resists Rotation and Slip: Penetration means the collar or gear cannot spin on the shaft, which matters on drive components carrying torque.
• Straight Slot Drive: Standard blade screwdrivers drive the screw, so no hex keys are needed for setup or field service.
• Headless Flush Fitting: The screw sits flush or recessed in the hub, leaving no protrusion on rotating assemblies.
• Effective on Soft Shafts: In aluminium, brass, and mild steel the point bites readily and holds without any prepared dimple.

Materials and Finishes

• Carbon Steel, Plain or Zinc Plated: The general purpose grade for collars, hubs, and machine components in normal indoor service.
• Alloy Steel Class 45H: Through hardened so the point resists blunting when driven into steel shafting.
• Stainless Steel A2 (304): For damp, food, and washdown environments needing corrosion resistance.
• Stainless Steel A4 (316): For marine, coastal, and chemical exposure.

Standards Compliance

• DIN 553, slotted set screws with cone point
• ISO 7434, slotted set screws with cone point international equivalent
• ISO 898 Part 5, mechanical properties of set screws and similar threaded fasteners
• DIN 551, slotted flat point set screws, reference for the alternative tip form

Size Range and Availability

Available in M3 through M12 in metric coarse thread with lengths from 3mm to 40mm, in plain and zinc plated steel, hardened alloy steel, and A2 or A4 stainless.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a cone point set screw used for?

It permanently locates a collar, hub, gear, or pulley on a shaft where the highest holding power is needed and the position will not change once set.

2. Do I need to drill a dimple in the shaft?

For best results, yes. A spot drilled conical dimple that matches the ninety degree point lets the tip seat fully, fixes the position exactly, and greatly increases resistance to slip. In soft shafts the point will bite without one, though holding is lower.

3. What is the angle of the cone point?

The standard cone point on DIN 553 is ground to ninety degrees, which is why a ninety degree spot drill produces a matching seat in the shaft.

4. Cone point or cup point, which should I use?

Use the cone point for permanent, precisely located joints where a spot drilled dimple is practical. Use a cup point for general purpose holding on plain shafts where you want good grip without machining the shaft first.

5. Will a cone point damage the shaft?

Yes, it is designed to penetrate and will leave a permanent mark. Choose a flat point instead if the shaft must stay unmarked or the component needs repositioning.

6. Can a cone point set screw be reused?

The screw can be reused if the tip is still sharp, though driving it into steel blunts the point over time. Once the tip is rounded off, holding power drops and the screw should be replaced.

7. Are set screws and grub screws the same?

Yes. Grub screw is the common workshop name for a headless set screw such as this one.

8. What screwdriver should I use?

Use a parallel tip blade driver sized to fill the slot fully. Tapered blades cam out of the slot and round its edges, especially at the high torque a cone point installation needs.

9. Should I use a thread locker with a cone point set screw?

It is good practice on vibrating assemblies. Even though the point holds mechanically in the shaft, the screw itself can still back out of its tapped hole over time.

10. What sizes do you stock?

We stock M3 through M12 in metric coarse thread with lengths from 3mm to 40mm, in plain and zinc plated steel, hardened alloy steel, and A2 or A4 stainless.