Stainless Steel Allen Grub – Cone Point

1) What is an Allen grub – cone point & when to use it?

An Allen grub screw (socket set screw) – cone point is a headless screw with an internal hex drive and a sharp, conical tip.

Use a cone point grub screw when you want:

Maximum holding power on a shaft or component

A point that penetrates or seats into a dimple / groove for positive locking

A hidden, flush fastener (no head projection) with very strong resistance to rotation/slip

Typical applications:

High-torque couplings, gears, pulleys and sprockets on shafts

Critical position locking where slippage cannot be tolerated

Indexing / positioning into pre-drilled dimples or grooves on a shaft

High-vibration equipment, where set screws must not creep

Cone point is the aggressive locking option – it digs in deeper than cup point, giving more grip but also more shaft marking.

2) Environment & corrosion

Indoor / dry / high-torque machinery:

Use hardened alloy steel cone point grub screws (usually black/oiled).

Perfect for industrial drives, couplings, machine tools, heavy mechanisms.

Outdoor / damp / stainless shafts:

Use A2 (304) stainless cone point grub screws.

Good for stainless transmissions, outdoor mechanisms, general food equipment.

Marine / chloride / chemical / wash-down:

Use A4 (316) stainless cone point grub screws.

For marine shafts, coastal drives, chemical plant linkages, food & pharma wash-down.

Simple rule:

Maximum mechanical grip, dry indoor → alloy steel cone point

Corrosion resistance priority → A2 / A4 stainless cone point

3) Point style – why cone point vs cup / flat / dog?

Cone point (your product here):

Sharp conical tip that bites deeply into the mating part.

Best when you want very high resistance to rotation and axial slip.

Ideal for permanent or semi-permanent locking where some shaft damage is acceptable.

Compared to other types:

Cup point:

Hollow cup with biting edge.

Good all-round holding, less penetration than cone.

Better when you want strong grip but moderate shaft marking.

Flat point:

Flat end, low marking, weakest grip.

For frequent adjustment or when shaft must stay relatively smooth.

Dog point / half-dog:

Cylindrical tip that fits into holes/slots.

Used for indexing and positive location, not just friction grip.

If someone says “I don’t want it to move at all”, and shaft damage is okay → cone point is usually the right answer.

Mechanical Properties (Guide) – Allen Grub Screw – Cone Point

Set screws are usually hardened steel or stainless, optimized for tip hardness and overall strength. Values below are conceptual for your website.

1) Alloy steel cone point grub screws (hardened)

Typical characteristics:

Made from medium / alloy steel, heat-treated and tempered.

Often equivalent to hardness class 45H:

Surface hardness roughly in the mid-40s to low-50s HRC.

This provides:

High tip hardness → cone point can cut into shaft and resist wear.

Good tensile and shear strength along the threaded portion.

Functional behaviour:

Excellent locking and resistance to slip, even under shock and vibration.

Highly suitable for steel shafts and hubs in dry, indoor machinery.

Should be protected or avoided in aggressive corrosive environments unless treated.

2) Stainless steel cone point grub screws (A2 / A4)

Typical characteristics:

Material: A2 (304) or A4 (316) stainless.

Less hard than fully hardened alloy steel, but with good strength and corrosion resistance.

Strength (approx):

A2-70 / A4-70:

Tensile strength ≈ 700 MPa range.

Still more than adequate for most locking duties on stainless or mild steel shafts.

Functional behaviour:

Best where rust, staining and contamination must be avoided (stainless shafts, food & pharma equipment, marine use).

Cone tip will still bite the substrate, though it may deform slightly more under extreme torque compared to hardened alloy.

3) Functional performance & failure modes

For a properly sized and installed cone point grub screw:

Holding power depends on:

Screw size & material

The bite depth of the cone into shaft/dimple

Shaft material hardness

Presence of thread-locker and correct tightening torque

Typical failure/slip modes:

Grub screw loosening due to vibration or inadequate torque

Shaft material yielding at the cone seat (especially if shaft is soft)

Cone tip deforming/wearing after repeated over-tightening

Thread stripping in the hub if engagement length is too short

Best practice:

Use appropriate torque (not excessive) and correct Allen key size.

For very critical joints, use:

Dimpled shafts,

Key + cone point,

And medium-strength thread-locker.