Bolt match marks poster

A match mark (or torque mark) is a paint line drawn across a nut, the bolt end and the surface after the bolt has been tightened to its standard. If the nut turns, the line breaks, so anyone can see a loosening bolt at a glance without a tool. This poster sets out the four steps, what to do when a line is broken, and where to mark first: the fixings where loosening costs most.

Download the poster

The PNG is free to download now. The print-ready vector PDFs open after a short form, once.

Download PNG (300 dpi)2550 x 3300 px, prints at 8.5 x 11 in · 329 KB · no form

Free to print and share with your team. Enter your name and work email once to download.

The words on the poster

Match marks

One paint line shows at a glance if a bolt has moved.

Tighten to the standard Right torque, checked tool. Never mark a bolt you did not tighten.
Draw one line Straight across nut, bolt end and surface, in paint marker.
Check it by eye At every inspection: is the line still straight?
Line broken? The nut has turned. Tag it. Maintenance finds why, re-tightens or replaces, re-marks.

Mark these first

Motor and gearbox mounts
Couplings and pulleys
Parts that vibrate
Guards and covers

On the floor

How to use it

Putting the Bolt match marks poster to work

1
Hang it in the maintenance workshop and at machines in autonomous maintenance step 2.
2
Use it when the team adds visual controls to a machine, starting with the list at the bottom.
3
Add 'check match marks' to the CILR standard, so the lines are looked at, not just drawn.
4
Pair it with the machine visual controls poster and the free TPM tag log.

Where the poster goes and how to teach with it, in the order to try them.

Which size to print

24 x 36 in or A2: a main wall or team board, read from a few metres away.
18 x 24 in or A3: a station or notice board. The A3 file also fits 11 x 17 in paper.
Letter or A4: a clipboard, binder or handout, on any office printer.

Every PDF is vector, so it stays sharp at full size. Nothing runs to the edge of the page, so no bleed is needed.