Fasteners

Rack screws are used to attach equipment to the vertical uprights of a 19" rack. Racks do not have a standard thread type. There are three common thread types for rack screws: 10-32, 12-24 and M6. Since the introduction of the square hole rack and Cage Nuts, the exact thread can be selected and changed at will. M6 refers to a metric 6mm screw. The outside diameter of the threads is 6mm. The standard metric rack screw is actually an M6 x 1mm. The number "1mm" refers to 1 threads per millimeter. M6 screws are commonly used by HP. You can identify an M6 screw by measuring the diameter with a ruler at slightly more than 7/32" (0.228").

Rack screws are used to attach equipment to the vertical uprights of a 19" rack. Racks do not have a standard thread type. There are three common thread types for rack screws: 10-32, 12-24 and M6. Since the introduction of the square hole rack and Cage Nuts, the exact thread can be selected and changed at will. 10-32 threads are historically the original rack screw type. The term 10-32 comes from Unified and American Screw Threads for Bolts, Nuts, and Machine Screws standards published by ANSI B1.1-1974. The number "10" is simply a size designator corresponding to the nominal diameter of the bolt. The number "32" refers to 32 threads per inch. You can identify a 10-32 screw by measuring the diameter with a ruler at exactly 3/16" (0.190").

A cage nut is used on a rack that has square mounting holes. You would use a cage nut when you need to mount a product in your rack that requires a threaded hole. A cage nut is nothing more than a square nut that has threaded holes wrapped in a piece of spring steel designed like a cage. This spring steel has two flanges that when pressed together allow the cage nut to be inserted into the square hole and simply clip in. When this is done, you now have a square hole that is threaded. The nut is typically loose in the cage to allow for adjustments when installing the screw. There are 3 common sizes for cage nuts. These sizes are 10-32, 12-24, and M6. The size you will require is determined by the product you are mounting. We recommend you purchase the corresponding screw to go with the cage nut. This makes the installation easier if you happen to select the wrong size cage nut.

A cage nut is used on a rack that has square mounting holes. You would use a cage nut when you need to mount a product in your rack that requires a threaded hole. A cage nut is nothing more than a square nut that has threaded holes wrapped in a piece of spring steel designed like a cage. This spring steel has two flanges that when pressed together allow the cage nut to be inserted into the square hole and simply clip in. When this is done, you now have a square hole that is threaded. The nut is typically loose in the cage to allow for adjustments when installing the screw. There are 3 common sizes for cage nuts. These sizes are 10-32, 12-24, and M6. The size you will require is determined by the product you are mounting. We recommend you purchase the corresponding screw to go with the cage nut. This makes the installation easier if you happen to select the wrong size cage nut.

Rack bolts are used to attach equipment to the vertical uprights of a 19" rack. Racks do not have a standard thread type. There are three common thread types for rack bolts: 10-32, 12-24 and M6. Since the introduction of the square hole rack and Cage Nuts, the exact thread can be selected and changed at will. 12-24 is now more common than 10-32 in pre-threaded racks. 12-24 fasteners are slightly larger than 10-32 and have courser threads. The term 12-24 comes from Unified and American Screw Threads for Bolts, Nuts, and Machine Screws standards published by ANSI B1.1-1974. The number "12" is simply a size designator corresponding to the nominal diameter of the bolt. The number "24" refers to 24 threads per inch. You can identify a 12-24 screw by measuring the diameter with a ruler at slightly less than 7/32" (slightly larger than 3/16" or 0.210").