JIS Cross vs. Tri-Wing
Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 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.
The Tri-Wing drive (standardized under military spec MIL-P-87893 / NASM 87893) is a tamper-resistant security drive featuring three radial slotted wings surrounding a triangular center point. Originally developed for aerospace structural skins, it was adopted by Nintendo for older cartridge and console hardware -- a distinct drive from the visually different Tri-Point/Y-type screw Apple uses today, despite the two often being confused.
Specification Comparison Table
9 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Cam-Out Tendency
|
Zero (Engineered to stay fully seated under high torque) | Moderate (Requires steady axial alignment to prevent bit climb) |
|
Primary Applications
|
Japanese motorcycles (engine cases, carburetors), Shimano bicycle components, Nikon/Canon cameras | Aerospace fuselage panels, older Nintendo cartridge/console hardware (original Game Boy, Game Boy Advance) |
|
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) | — |
|
Common Sizing Tiers
|
JIS #000, JIS #00, JIS #0, JIS #1, JIS #2, JIS #3 | — |
|
Original Manufacturer / Spec
|
— | Phillips Screw Company / MIL-P-87893 (US Military Aerospace Specification) |
|
Drive Geometry
|
— | 3 radial wings offset from a central triangular hub (120-degree radial spacing) |
|
Standard Sizing Tiers
|
— | TRI-000, TRI-00, TRI-0, TRI-1, TRI-2, TRI-3, TRI-4, TRI-5 |