JIS Cross vs. Torx
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
JIS B 1012 is a Japanese Industrial Standard cruciform screw drive commonly found on Japanese motorcycles (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki), cameras, and consumer electronics. Visually similar to Phillips, it features a shallower center pit and parallel 90-degree cross-wings engineered not to cam out, which easily strip when turned with standard Phillips screwdrivers.
Torx (standardized as Hexalobular Internal under ISO 10664) is a 6-lobed star-shaped screw drive system developed by Camcar Textron in 1967. Engineered with a low 15-degree drive angle and curved lobes, it eliminates cam-out entirely, delivers exceptional torque transfer, and drastically extends tool bit lifespan across automotive, computing, and construction hardware.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Cam-Out Tendency
|
Zero (Engineered to stay fully seated under high torque) | Zero (Radial drive force completely eliminates axial climb) |
|
Common Sizing Tiers
|
JIS #000, JIS #00, JIS #0, JIS #1, JIS #2, JIS #3 | T1–T5 (smartphones), T6–T10 (laptops/electronics), T15–T25 (wood/auto), T30–T50 (chassis/structural) |
|
Standard Specification
|
JIS B 1012 (Cruciform cross-recessed screws) | — |
|
Visual Identification
|
A single small raised circular dimple or dot stamped into the head face | — |
|
Flank Geometry
|
Parallel cross walls with a flat, shallow bottom recess (no cam-out slope) | — |
|
Primary Applications
|
Japanese motorcycles (engine cases, carburetors), Shimano bicycle components, Nikon/Canon cameras | — |
|
International Standard
|
— | ISO 10664 (Hexalobular internal driving feature for bolts and screws) |
|
Drive Geometry
|
— | 6-pointed star with rounded circular lobes |
|
Drive Angle
|
— | 15 degrees (near-perpendicular torque vector) |
|
External Variant
|
— | E-Torx (Inverted star socket for high-torque automotive bolts, E4 to E24) |