BAN004 torx cone head 0,5mm

A star recess in a cone head, 0.5 mm

Half a millimeter is the lower limit of this whole line. The head tapers toward its seating face into a cone, so once fitted it blends with the surface of the part much as a countersunk screw does on real machinery. In the middle sits a recess in the shape of a six-point star, which engineers know under the trade name torx.

Why a star recess of all things

This kind of drive made its way in the 1960s, because it spreads the tightening force over six points and the key does not ride out of the head. Motorcycle makers therefore like to use it where the head is countersunk and there is no room for a tall key, typically on switch covers, on cable clips or on small panels.

Working with the smallest step

• Set up lighting from behind as well as from the side, otherwise you will not see the recess at all.
• Choose the finest drill bit a pin vise will hold and guide it vertically.
• Set the parts down in a shallow dish; a size like this is not to be found again on a table.
• Thin the paint more than usual; a heavy coat floods the recess at once.

Where else to reach

If this size seems below the limit of your patience, the neighboring steps of 0.6 and 0.7 mm are noticeably easier to work with and in the overall impression of a display cabinet the difference is almost lost. For collectors who build in a large scale and want even the finest joints set apart, on the other hand, the 0.5 mm diameter is the quietest dot there is.