Specifications
Surface Treatments
Certifications
- ISO 9001 - 2015 Certified
- PED 2014/68/EC
- NACE MR0175/ISO 15156-2
- NORSOK M-650
- DFAR
- MERKBLATT AD 2000 W2/W7/W10
MIL-DTL-7838 legacy 12-point aerospace bolts
MIL-DTL-7838 covers 12-point external-drive aerospace bolts. MIL-DTL-7838 was historically the mil-spec 12-point aerospace bolt callout. It has been largely replaced by the NAS6303-NAS6320 series for new designs but remains specified in legacy aircraft maintenance. TorqBolt manufactures MIL-DTL-7838-spec bolts in A286 and compatible alloys to AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 quality systems. Each bolt head carries the struck tB ligature plus the A286 grade marking, with a mill test report (MTC 3.1 or MTC 3.2 critical) shipping with every lot.
Common Alloys for MIL-DTL-7838
| Alloy | Tensile | Service envelope |
|---|---|---|
| A286 (UNS S66286) | 160 ksi | up to 700 °C |
| Inconel 718 (UNS N07718) | 180 ksi | up to 700 °C, jet-engine |
| AISI 8740 chromoly | up to 220 ksi (HT) | standard high-strength |
| Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) | 130 ksi | 56% lighter than steel |
Frequently asked questions
What is a 12-point bolt?
A 12-point bolt has 12 splines arranged every 30 degrees on the OUTSIDE of the bolt head, also called a bi-hex or double-hex bolt. The 12 external splines provide twice the wrench-engagement angles of a standard hex head, allowing higher applied torque before cam-off, which is why aerospace and motorsport applications adopt the geometry.
Are 12-point bolts the same as ISO 14579?
No. ISO 14579 specifies an INTERNAL hexalobular socket head (similar to Torx) recessed inside a cap screw. External 12-point bolts under MS21250 / NAS1351 / AS3216 use an EXTERNAL bi-hex head driven by a 12-point socket wrench. Both involve 12 features but on different sides of the bolt head and require different drivers.
Which alloys does TorqBolt manufacture 12-point bolts in?
TorqBolt produces 12-point bolts in A286 (UNS S66286), Inconel 718 (UNS N07718), Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5, MP35N (UNS R30035), Custom 465 H1025, AISI 8740 chromoly heat-treated, AISI 4340, 17-4 PH, H-11 tool steel, and L19 race-grade alloy steel. Choice depends on tensile target, service temperature, and corrosion environment.
Is TorqBolt AS9100D certified?
Yes. TorqBolt operates under AS9100D Rev D and ISO 9001:2015 quality management systems, audited annually by the registrar. NORSOK M-630 and NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 qualifications cover offshore and sour-service applications. Mill test reports MTC 3.1 standard and MTC 3.2 critical-service witness are issued with every lot.
What lead time should I expect?
Stock alloys (A286, AISI 8740, AISI 4340, 17-4 PH, 316 stainless) ship in 4 to 6 weeks. Specialty alloys (Inconel 718, MP35N, Custom 465, Ti-6Al-4V, L19) ship in 8 to 12 weeks depending on raw-bar lead time at the alloy producer. Critical-service orders requiring third-party witness inspection (MTC 3.2) add 1 to 2 weeks for witness scheduling.
UNJ-3A External Thread Dimensions (Common 12-Point Bolt Sizes)
Per SAE AS8879 (controlled-root-radius UNJ external thread). 12-point aerospace bolts under MS21250, NAS1351, AS3216, NAS6303 to NAS6320 are produced to UNJ-3A external thread tolerances. Root radius 0.150 P to 0.180 P (where P = pitch) for fatigue resistance, this is the difference vs standard UN-3A and the reason aerospace specifies UNJ.
| Nominal | TPI | Pitch P (mm) | Major Dia Min (mm) | Major Dia Max (mm) | Pitch Dia Min (mm) | Pitch Dia Max (mm) | Minor Dia Min (mm) | Minor Dia Max (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4-28 UNJF-3A | 28 | 0.907 | 6.297 | 6.350 | 5.706 | 5.770 | 5.156 | 5.296 |
| 5/16-24 UNJF-3A | 24 | 1.058 | 7.875 | 7.938 | 7.185 | 7.249 | 6.553 | 6.711 |
| 3/8-24 UNJF-3A | 24 | 1.058 | 9.462 | 9.525 | 8.773 | 8.840 | 8.139 | 8.298 |
| 7/16-20 UNJF-3A | 20 | 1.270 | 11.051 | 11.113 | 10.227 | 10.297 | 9.467 | 9.652 |
| 1/2-20 UNJF-3A | 20 | 1.270 | 12.638 | 12.700 | 11.815 | 11.887 | 11.051 | 11.243 |
| 9/16-18 UNJF-3A | 18 | 1.411 | 14.225 | 14.288 | 13.310 | 13.385 | 12.466 | 12.673 |
| 5/8-18 UNJF-3A | 18 | 1.411 | 15.812 | 15.875 | 14.897 | 14.973 | 14.054 | 14.262 |
| 3/4-16 UNJF-3A | 16 | 1.588 | 18.991 | 19.050 | 17.961 | 18.040 | 17.018 | 17.246 |
| 7/8-14 UNJF-3A | 14 | 1.814 | 22.166 | 22.225 | 21.001 | 21.085 | 19.926 | 20.181 |
| 1-12 UNJF-3A | 12 | 2.117 | 25.336 | 25.400 | 23.974 | 24.064 | 22.717 | 22.985 |
| 1 1/4-12 UNJF-3A | 12 | 2.117 | 31.687 | 31.750 | 30.328 | 30.418 | 29.072 | 29.343 |
| 1 1/2-12 UNJF-3A | 12 | 2.117 | 38.037 | 38.100 | 36.678 | 36.768 | 35.422 | 35.693 |
| 1 15/16-12 UNJF-3A | 12 | 2.117 | 49.149 | 49.213 | 47.791 | 47.886 | 46.535 | 46.812 |
| 2-12 UNJF-3A | 12 | 2.117 | 50.737 | 50.800 | 49.378 | 49.473 | 48.122 | 48.399 |
Internal thread (UNJ-3B, mating nut) tolerances and metric M-J equivalents available on request. Send drawing or spec callout to info@torqbolt.com.
Request a Quote
Send drawing or PO line referencing MIL-DTL-7838 to info@torqbolt.com or call +91-22-66157017.
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