Tri-Wing Drive
Direct Answer
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 famously adopted by Nintendo to prevent unauthorized consumer opening of gaming consoles and cartridges.
Source: MIL-P-87893 / NASM 87893 / Phillips Screw Company (TRI-WING)
Specs
| 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 (or Y000, Y00, Y0, Y1) |
| Cam-Out Tendency | Moderate (Requires steady axial alignment to prevent bit climb) |
| Primary Applications | Aerospace fuselage panels, Nintendo hardware (Game Boy, Switch, Joy-Cons), Apple iPhone battery brackets (Y000) |
Aerospace Origin vs Consumer Electronics
Invented by the Phillips Screw Company in the 1970s for commercial aviation (Boeing, Lockheed), the Tri-Wing drive allowed aircraft technicians to rapidly service exterior aerodynamic access panels without stripping. In the 1990s, consumer electronics manufacturers—most notably Nintendo (starting with the original Game Boy cartridge screws and continuing through the Nintendo Switch and Joy-Con shells)—adopted miniature Tri-Wing screws (Y0 and Y00) to prevent piracy and warranty-voiding consumer modifications.
The Apple 'Y-Type' (Tri-Point) Evolution
Modern smartphones (such as Apple iPhone 7 through current models) use ultra-microscopic Y000 (0.6 mm) Tri-Point screws to secure internal battery connector plates and display grounding shields, requiring specialized micro-machined precision bits.