- Torq-Set
Torq-set is one design of screw head that is used in applications where tamper resistant fastening is required.
Appearance
The Torq-set head is similar in appearance to a
Phillips head (crosshead) in that it has a cross with 4 arms. In Torq-set however, the arms of the cross are offset with respect to each other, so they do not align to form 2 intersecting slots across the top of the head. Because of this, a regular Phillips or flat-head screwdriver will not fit the head.Tamper-resistance
As with most 'security' screws and bolts, the
tamper-resistant aspect of Torq-set comes from the fact that the driver required to undo them is not widely used, and an opportunist attacker would be unlikely to be carrying the correct driver at the time a screw was encountered. By the same mechanism, the screw protects items such as home electronics from being opened easily, reducing the incidence of damage or improper repair carried out by unqualified persons. Equally this can prevent people with the relevant knowledge from possibly performing a repair without having to return the unit to the manufacturer.This is an instance of
security through obscurity , and should only be considered low-level protection, as the drivers required are widely available for purchase from electronics and tool suppliers, usually in the form of a kit containing many different varieties of 'security' screws such as Tri-wing, Robertson (square), Allen (hex), and Torx.Application
Torq-set best suits applications where tamper resistant fastening is required that must also cope with high
torque when being driven. The geometry of the head and driver makes both components less likely tocam-out or strip than some other designs when subject to high torque. Compared withTri-Wing , Torq-set would be expected to cope better with high torque, as the force is spread over 4 arms instead of Tri-Wing's 3 arms.ee also
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Screws
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