a b "TORX Drive System" (PDF). Textron Fastening Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-01-02.

Tamper-Resistant TORX PLUS Drive System" (PDF). Textron Fastening Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-11-10. Technical Information on Fasteners: Design recommendations 11.1 Inside drives for screws – AW drive (AW-Antrieb)" (PDF). Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG . Retrieved 2 March 2017. Torx (pronounced / t ɔːr k s/) is a trademark for a type of screw drive characterized by a 6-point star-shaped pattern, developed in 1967 [1] by Camcar Textron. [a] A popular generic name for the drive is star, as in star screwdriver or star bits. The official generic name, standardized by the International Organization for Standardization as ISO 10664, is hexalobular internal. [2] This is sometimes abbreviated in databases and catalogs as 6lobe (starting with the numeral 6, not the capital letter G). Torx Plus, Torx Paralobe and Torx ttap are improved head profiles. [3] There’s a lot of potential confusion when it comes to whether or not you should include Torx bits (aka: star bits) in your toolkit. Additionally, you may not be familiar with the various standard and uncommon star bit sizes. Torx bits are a specialized type of screwdriver bit designed to prevent slips. They’re a standard 1” length and have a flattened, six-pointed head. For this last reason, they’re generally known as star bits. BenefitsAnother advantage over other types is that star bits are much more efficient when hand-tightening. You can apply a large amount of torque without camming out. This is one of those common questions where the answer is a very reserved yes. You can theoretically remove a Torx screw using a straight screwdriver or Allen key provided the two are the appropriate size. However, in both cases, you run the high risk of stripping the head.

Torx Paralobe is a further developed Torx Drive System with 6% longer Flanks which results in a 20% higher applicable torque. [15] Torx Plus [ edit ] Torx Plus head pattern Camcar eventually became part of Textron Fastening Systems in the 1990s. In 2006 Textron Fastening Systems was sold to Platinum Equities, LLC, of Beverly Hills, California. They renamed the company Acument Global Technologies, which as of 2010 includes Avdel, Camcar, Ring Screw, and others. In 2014, Acument was sold from Platinum Equity to Fontana Gruppo. By design, Torx head screws resist cam out better than Phillips head or slot head screws. [1] Whereas the tendency of Phillips drivers to cam out under excessive torque has been listed as a feature preventing damage to the screw-head or driver, [5] Torx heads were designed to prevent cam-out. The development of better torque-limiting automatic screwdrivers for use in factories allowed this change. Rather than rely on the tool to slip out of the screw head when a desired torque level is reached (which risks damage to the driver tip, screw head, or workpiece), torque-limiting driver designs achieve a desired torque consistently. Another bit of terminology that can be confusing is when referencing internal Torx vs external Torx. When talking Torx bits, we’re actually referring to an internal Torx head. In other words, the bit is inserted into the head of the fitting. One of the biggest problems with straight and Phillips heads are their ability to slip when there’s more torque than grip. This can lead to stripped heads and a greater risk of personal injury. Several types of screwdriver have been created to combat this flaw, including both the Allen wrench and Torx driver.a b c d e "Chart of Torx fasteners and tools". Wiha Tools USA. Archived from the original on 2015-12-26 . Retrieved 2012-01-14. Many star bits have little improvements, such as knurled ends or ball dents to improve handle grip. While essentially the same as official Torx, these little additions tend to make third party star bits a more popular choice. Internal vs External Torx External Torx For the Torx type of design, the angle is much closer to 90° than in the case of the hex head, and so for a given torque the potentially damaging radial force is much lower. This property allows the head of the fastener to be smaller for the same required torque, which can be an advantage in applications where space to accommodate the head is limited.