Why wouldn't they? It's an efficient design, and aside from the whole force thing they seem to be working with the same physics that we are. Why wouldn't they invent philips head screws?

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine - it's designed purely for automation. That's why it's tapered, to allow power tools to slip out before they break. That's good for automation in the *1930s (EDIT: I've realised that in a few years it will be the 30s again and maybe I shouldn't leave this so ambiguous in light of that), not so good for hand tools or any modern tool with a torque limiter.

You're much better off with hex or torx, or even the square driver, which is much more tolerant of imperfect handheld tool usage.

The only reason phillips is still used is because it's ubiquitous, it's very much a historical oddity. It's okay for many tasks but unfortunately the slipping out behaviour can destroy the screws very quickly.

https://www.ifixit.com/News/9903/bit-history-the-phillips

I mean it's conceivable they'd come up with something similar, and it would be weird to expect a props department to find different screw heads just to be lore accurate.

Edit: Plus it's common today, which means from a prop design standpoint it communicates the idea that it's hand-built, because just about everyone has a phillips head screwdriver, so seeing it tells you it's something you can work on. I think that's the main reason it would be there. Jedi are supposed to make their own lightsabers.

[–] Croquette@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

A good balled hex driver is such a joy to use. Somewhat align it with the screw, and you can use it at weird angle.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I prefer to only use them when I can't get alignment. They're far more likely to round out the head in my experience, but they have their uses.

[–] Croquette@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Maybe I didn't use them enough yet, but I bought some Wiha balled hex driver and I haven't stripped a screw yet, and I use cheap screws.

I also had to dismantle my 3d printer hot end with a lot of weirdly placed screws and it wasn't even an issue.

[–] Excrubulent@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Fair enough, I'm talking about big H5 construction screws and impact drivers, so a different use case maybe. Also it turns out when ARRMA uses too much threadlock on their axle set screws you can strip them really easily, and I needed more expensive special hex drivers with tight tolerances to work with them.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

They strip like a mf.

[–] felykiosa@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you have ever used torx once in your life you can't say that Philip is great anymore.

[–] _bcron@midwest.social 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Torx is cool and all but all the touted virtues such as less cam-out go out the window if you have to drive them in at wonky angles, like tight fitting spaces. If you gotta angle the driver it's not gonna seat well at all, apt to jump and wear out your bit. And if your only T20 rolls away and falls under a deck, yuck, 10mm problems.

Phillips has a place and that place is 'a wonky place to hold a power drill'. That said I'm a huge fan of square head because it's a happy medium between those two

[–] felykiosa@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

I have used torx in weird angle with less issue than Phillips . My heart is fully sold to torx and Allen keys ❤️

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Angled screws only work halfway well with Pozidriv or Torx, standard Phillips slip too.

Btw, why is Torq-set or Tri-wing so uncommon? They seem the best mechanically.

Edit: no way to change image size in markdown?

Efitedit: why does this exist? Oval

[–] Kecessa@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago

Because it's a fucking stupid design! Fuck Phillips, long live Robertson!