Wedge Lock Washers vs Nylon Insert Nuts, Split Washers and Jam Nuts
Quick answer: Nylon insert nuts, split washers, jam nuts and prevailing torque nuts all rely on friction to resist loosening. Friction varies from joint to joint and drops away under vibration and dynamic loading. A wedge lock washer works differently. It uses a pair of interlocking cam faces with an angle steeper than the thread…
What Is a Wedge Washer? How Wedge Lock Washers Work
Quick Answer A wedge washer is a mechanical bolt locking device that uses two hardened washers with interlocking cam faces to prevent bolt loosening under vibration and dynamic loads. Supplied as a pre-glued pair, wedge washers install like a standard washer but lock the joint physically rather than by friction. The cam angle is steeper…
Bolt Loosening Due to Vibration: Causes and Solutions
The Problem Bolt loosening due to vibration is a known mechanical failure mode. A bolted joint depends on preload. When a bolt is tightened, it stretches slightly and clamps the joint together. This clamping force prevents movement between components. Under vibration, that condition changes. Dynamic forces introduce small transverse movements between joint surfaces. These movements…
