Pentacle Driver Bit same as?

[Jack Ryan]

It's not that I want a set of every conceivable bit, I'd just like to know what they are.

Is a Pentacle bit the same as a Torx Plus IPR?

It seems that not many manufacturers market a Pentacle bit - Genius is one - and they are listed as T like their other Torx variants. Another possibility is a Pentalobe but that seems less likely because of the number and sizes available.

Thanks
Jack

 

[KnurledNut]

It's not that I want a set of every conceivable bit, I'd just like to know what they are.

Is a Pentacle bit the same as a Torx Plus IPR?

It seems that not many manufacturers market a Pentacle bit - Genius is one - and they are listed as T like their other Torx variants. Another possibility is a Pentalobe but that seems less likely because of the number and sizes available.

Thanks
Jack

Yes. One and the same.
I own the Genius set you’re referencing.
They arent licensed to use the registered Torx name, so Pentacle is their generic name.
They are the equivalent to a 5 lobe tamper torx plus.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Yes. One and the same.
I own the Genius set you’re referencing.
They arent licensed to use the registered Torx name, so Pentacle is their generic name.
They are the equivalent to a 5 lobe tamper torx plus.

Thank you.

That is what I thought was the case and I thought it would be easy to get confirmation via Google, but I was mistaken. Fortunately, you and the GJ are here.

Regards
Jack

 

[Jack Ryan]

It looks like the same is true with Ribe (registered name) and polydrive (generic name).

Jack

 

[KnurledNut]

It looks like the same is true with Ribe (registered name) and polydrive (generic name).

Jack

Not in this case.
Ribe and Polydrive are both trademarked names.
They are also slightly different profiles from one another.
Regarding Genius, I have their Ribe set too, and they actually use the real name on them.

Genius use of the word Star instead of Torx would be another generic example similar to your original inquiry.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Not in this case.
Ribe and Polydrive are both trademarked names.
They are also slightly different profiles from one another.
Regarding Genius, I have their Ribe set too, and they actually use the real name on them.

Genius use of the word Star instead of Torx would be another generic example similar to your original inquiry.

Thanks for that but, oh dear, this is confusing.

You are correct, both are registered names but it seems that Polydrive is a registered drive type and Ribe is the registered name of a fastener line. For example, here is a Ribe bolt head that looks like a Double Hex. RIBE is short for Richard Bergner GmbH & Co. KG, a German manufacturer of fastening systems, & etc.



I cannot speak with authority on this but here is the source of some of my confusion.

• RIBE CV mechanical fastener, commonly refers to the Polydrive fastener which is used in automotive products (Wikipedia)
• The polydrive screw drive, also known as RIBE, is spline-shaped with rounded ends in the fastener head. The tool has six flat teeth at equal spacing; the sizes are determined by the diameter of the star points. Its primary advantage over older screw drives is that it resists cam out. It is used primarily in the automotive industry in high-torque applications, such as brakes and driveshafts.
• RIBE-CV (Polydrive) Used primarily in the automotive industry. For example some FIAT cylinder heads are using this type of fasteners. A RIBE-CV (or simply RIBE) bit has 6 teeth at equal spacing and with flat tips to the teeth.

There are also numerous forums containing even more numerous contradictions.

Wiha don't list Ribe or Polydrive drivers so perhaps one or both exist under yet another name. Genius list Ribe but not Polydrive. I don't remember anyone supplying Ribe and Polydrive but some list Ribe/Polydrive as one bit. I am not convinced that all suppliers use the name "polydrive" (uncapitalised) for the same bit.

Some drives, like the Pentalobe don't (didn't) have official specifications (standards) and perhaps others don't either. It would be helpful to have access to the standards that do exist just to clarify the issue.

I apologise for wasting so much bandwidth on this but for such a simple issue, why is it ambiguous?

Regards
Jack