Self Clinching Fasteners
Self Clinching Fasteners are easy to install fasteners that provide load carrying threads in metal sheets too thin to be tapped.
They provide strong load bearing male or female threads in thin steel and aluminium panels. Installation is neat and easy.
Simply locate the fastener into a pre-prepared hole and apply a parallel squeezing force to embed the fastener into the panel. Self-Clinching fasteners work by utilizing a special clinch feature. When the part is pressed into the hole, the parent material cold-flows into the clinch feature, effectively locking the fastener into the panel, providing excellent torque-out and push-out performance.
Self-Clinching fasteners require a parallel squeezing force to be applied for correct installation. Equally important is the length of time the force is applied. Sufficient time must be allowed for the cold-flow clinching process to work (this is often referred to as the dwell time when installing on a hydraulic press).
These nuts, studs, spacers, standoffs and other components are used worldwide by producers of Telecom, Computer, Medical, Automotive And Aerospace Systems etc.
Advantages:
* Provide strong threads in thin metal components
* Easy installation
* High push-out and torque out resistance
* No re-tapping necessary
* Reverse side of sheet remains flush
* Low installed cost
Available in Mild Steel and Stainless Steel :
CLINCH NUTS
CLINCH STUDS
Available in Mild Steel and Stainless Steel
STANDOFFS
Go to the Self-Clinching Standoffs page
SELF CLINCHING BLIND FASTENERS
Go to the Self-Clinching Blind Fastener page
FLUSH NUTS
USAGE GUIDE
“DOs”…
DO provide mounting hole of specified size for each fastener.
DO make certain that shank (or pilot) is within hole before applying installation force.
DO apply squeezing force between parallel surfaces.
DO install fastener into punch side of sheet.
DO apply sufficient force to totally embed clinching ring around entire circumference and to bring shoulder squarely in contact with sheet. For some fasteners installation will be complete when the head is flush with the sheet.
“DON’Ts”…
DON’T install steel or stainless steel fasteners in aluminum panels before anodizing or finishing.
DON’T deburr mounting holes on either side of sheet before installing fasteners–deburring will remove metal required for
clinching fastener into sheet.
DON’T install fastener closer to edge of sheet than minimum edge distance indicated in dimension tables–unless a special
fixture is used to restrict bulging of sheet edge.
DON’T over-squeeze. It will crush the head, distort threads, and buckle the sheet. Be certain to determine optimum
installation force by test prior to production runs.
DON’T attempt to insert fastener with a hammer blow under any circumstances. A hammer blow won’t permit the
sheet metal to flow into the back tapered shank.
DON’T install screw in the head side of the fastener. Install from opposite side so that the fastener load is toward the sheet.
The clinching force is designed only to hold the fastener during handling and to resist torque during assembly.
DON’T install fastener on pre-painted side of sheet.
SPECIAL NOTE FOR INSTALLING INTO STAINLESS STEEL SHEETS
One of the very basics of self-clinching is that the fastener must be harder than the host sheet. Only then will the fastener
perform as intended.
This is particularly challenging when installing fasteners into stainless steel sheet metal.
If your application requires that the fastener clinches into stainless steel, be sure you use the fasteners specifically
designed for this purpose.