Across all industries, washers are components that can be found in countless assemblies that utilize fasteners. Often coming in the form of a flat disc with a hole, washers are used for the means of distributing weight and fastener loads. Additionally, they can also be relied on as spacers, vibration reducers, fastener locking components, and much more. Depending on the particular need of an application, there are numerous types of washers that one may choose from. As a result, it is crucial that one has a basic understanding of the most common categories so that they may find an optimal fit for their particular needs.

While there are many ways to join objects together, whether that be through crimping, welding, soldering, gluing, and more, fasteners are the perfect solution for non-permanent joints. A type of hardware device used to join or affix two or more things together, fasteners are typically made from stainless steel, carbon steel, or alloy steel that allows for prolonged part reliability. Available with special coatings or plating to further improve a fastener's resistance to corrosion and weather phenomena, fastener screws are constructed with various characteristics to suit application methods within different materials. However, unlike traditional screws that hold items in place, lead screws are manufactured to provide continual motion within an assembly. Primarily implemented within an apparatus to facilitate linear motion, lead screws are classified by the shape of their threads and are available in square thread, trapezoidal (ACME) thread, and buttress thread variations.

Nuts are common components to a number of fastened assemblies, often paired with bolts to compress two or more objects together. Just like all fasteners, nuts can come in a variety of shapes and forms to accommodate different applications, environments, and needs. Castellated nuts, or castle nuts, are specialized types that feature three notches on one end, giving the component the appearance of a castle battlement. With their installation alongside a mating bolt or screw, castellated nuts operate as a positive locking device that assist an installation in its ability to resist loosening due to vibration.