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Part Family: Hardware

Manufacturers: Washers are manufactured by Boeing, Messier-Dowty, Caterpillar Inc, Westinghouse Electric Corp, Tognum America Inc, and Trw Inc.

Functionality of Washers:

The job of washers primarily is to provide a smooth bearing surface and act as a shim, helping obtain correct grip length for a nut & bolt assembly. They are often used to adjust the position of a grooved nut compared to drilled cotter pin holes. Washers are a perforated piece of metal, leather, or other materials of various shapes or forms. They can serve as a seat for a nut, bolt, screw, rivet, or nail to distribute pressure and prevent endwise motion over an area and/or to prevent movement between two parts by means of restraining features created by the shape of its edges.

FSG: Washers are categorized under FSG 53 - Hardware and Abrasives

FSC: Washers are categorized under FSC 5310 - Nuts and Washers

Common Applications: Plain washers are used under lock washers in order to protect the surface material from damage. Aluminum and alloy washers can both be used under nuts or bolts on alloy or magnesium structures. This prevents corrosion by dissimilar metals, a factor which can be detrimental to washers. It is common to use a cadmium-plated steel washer under a nut bearing directly against a structure. This will resist the cutting action of a nut better than an aluminum alloy washer, thereby slowing the wear-down process.

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