I hereby throw myself on the mercy of everyone reading this plea
for information that has tangential on-topic application to the
focus of this group, specifically in the fabrication of various
3-D printed repair and restoration components.

I am trying to find a source for a specific type of screw fastener
that I thought would be easily found using Google or the search
functions of McMaster-Carr or Amazon.com. How wrong I would be!

In Fastener Land there is something called a "drive screw". Its
salient feature is that the threads of these screws are "cut"
(actually, I believe they are roll-formed) in a "high spiral"
configuration.

Many of these screws have a simple dome or rivet head without slots
or recesses designed to receive screw diver tips. During assembly,
these screws are simply force pressed into mating parts (usually made
of plastic) where they "self-thread" into carefully sized holes.

In some designs (the ones I am looking for), the screw _is_ fitted
with a normal head to receive a Straight/Philips/Square screw driver
bit. Pictured below is an example of such a screw. Its diameter is
close to a #6 screw but should be available in a range of diameters
and lengths.

One commercial product I have found where these screws are used is
a cord-mount electrical fixture manufactured by Leviton and carries
their reference # 515PV, where three of these screws attach the
terminal blade assembly to the outer shell.

Unfortunately, a call to the Leviton product support desk did not
identify a source for these screws. They may also be called "screw
nails" or "scnails", also "Type U" drive screws. Someone MUST know
the official/correct designation for these types of screws and where
they may be sourced. Anyone? Anyone?

John Grant

 [ Screw with Spiral threads
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/06/30/220630_195409_JohnGrant1.jpg 
 [ Application to Plastic Part
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/22/06/30/220630_195409_JohnGrant2.jpg 

 [ In the woodworking business, "pocket hole screws" seem to be close...
 [ -- Jody

 [ This screw resembles the Leviton screw:
 [ https://apexfasteners.com/fasteners/threaded-products/screws/tapping-screws/thread-forming-screws/thread-forming-for-plastic/plastite 
 [ Also https://apexfasteners.com/fasteners/threaded-products/screws/drive-screws 
 [ -- Robbie