Self-locking fasteners, also known as self-clinching fasteners, are a class of fasteners. Once threaded into a softer, ductile metal, it is held in place using a serrated clinching ring, knurl, ribs, or hex head, effectively preventing the fastener from turning in the host material, locking it so that it can’t be removed. Properly installed, these fasteners become a permanent part of construction in the area. Located in Canton, MA, Electronic Fasteners has a wide selection of quality fasteners for any application.
Self-locking fasteners are the perfect fastening solution for applications where the attaching hardware can’t be easily reached after a cabinet, chassis, or another component is assembled. Threaded fasteners have several advantages over other fasteners, including:
- Greater product design freedom
- Reduced labor time and inventory
- Fewer parts for simplified assembly
- Greater reliability and holding power
- The ability to use thinner sheet metal
They are used primarily when good pullout and torque loads are required, especially in thin sheet metal that can’t be securely fastened by other means. In many cases, threaded self-locking fasteners – because of their locking power, low profile, and compact design – can enable the use of even thinner sheet metal for a lighter and smaller assembly.
Self-locking fasteners, should only be used in products utilizing a metal that is softer than the fastener. For it to work correctly, the fastener must cold-flow the softer sheet material to form a secure bond. If the fastener is more delicate than the sheet metal, it will simply deform and not work correctly. Products incorporating stainless steel sheet metal require fasteners explicitly designed for stainless.
Self-locking fasteners are ideal for manufacturing products in which simplified assembly and fewer parts can reduce production costs and speed up time-to-market in highly competitive marketplaces. They not only reduce labor time, inventory, and overall product weight but also provide greater product design freedom enabling the use of thinner metals. All of these features make this type of fastener especially attractive for medical, computer, communications, automotive, and aerospace products. For help finding the right fasteners for your needs, contact us at Electronic Fasteners and our knowledgeable will be happy to help.
