Japanese Matsumoto Industry Supplies Small Screws for Brazil\\\'s Small Satellite

In August 2015 Japan sent the uncrewed cargo spacecraft "Kounotori" ("Tork" English) to the space to supply the International Space Station. "Kounotori" carries Brazil's small satellite, and the small screws installed on the satellite are supplied by Matsumoto Industry Co Ltd. The small screws are M3 with countersunk head and anti-loosening special threads called "Noji Lock" which prevent loosening with no coating required, and therefore the screws were adopted. Matsumoto Industry specializes in micro-screws. Besides the medical industry, the company is tapping into the space machinery industry.

"Noji Lock" features:

1. High bondability: The threaded portion comes in 5 types of shape designed to partially deform the thread and create protrusion on the flank so as to make the effective diameter longer than that of the undeformed portion and create high bondability with the female threads.

2. Anti-loosening: Apply axial force after fastening the threads, and the protrusion on the flank will deform the flank of female threads and bite the female threads, in the meantime defying the torque on the loosening direction.

3. Reusable.