800.466.1940
PEM® miniature self-clinching fasteners are specialized components designed for efficient and secure attachment in confined spaces, offering a reliable solution for various industries. These fasteners feature a unique design with a knurled or serrated clinching ring. This design allows them to be pressed into pre-punched or drilled holes in sheet metal, providing a permanent and flush connection. This process eliminates the need for additional hardware or welding, ensuring that the original parts remain intact and the overall assembly process is streamlined. Their compact size makes them ideal for limited-space applications, such as electronic components or compact assemblies, where precision and stability are paramount.
Advantages of Self-Clinching Fasteners
Self-clinching fasteners offer several advantages, particularly in applications involving thin sheet metal. These fasteners provide high load-bearing threads in sheets as thin as 0.5 mm, ensuring firm and durable installation. They support various parallel installation methods, making them versatile and economical. The clinching process results in high torque-out and pull-through values, essential for ensuring a secure fit while avoiding the need for additional processing, such as countersinking or deburring. Unlike other fastening methods, the backside of the sheet remains undamaged, with no bulging or deformation, and the threads do not need to be re-tapped. Additionally, these fasteners can be mounted on coated surfaces, providing high accuracy in positioning with exact rectangularity concerning the sheet. This combination of features reduces installation costs and increases manufacturing efficiency.
How and When to Use Self-Clinching Fasteners
Fasteners that self-clinch, like PEM®'s miniature nuts, are critical in applications requiring high torque-out and pull-through values in thin materials. These fasteners work by being installed into a pre-punched hole in the sheet metal, where the squeezing force from the installation process causes the material to flow into an undercut in the fastener, forming a secure attachment. This cold-forming process ensures that the fastener becomes an integral part of the sheet, resisting twisting due to the knurled or specially shaped hexagonal head. The clinching process also guarantees immediate visual confirmation of proper installation, with the fastener becoming a permanent part of the assembly.
Such fasteners are handy when high performance and reliability are needed, especially in thin materials where traditional tapped holes would not suffice. Industries from aviation and space to telecommunications, electronics, and automotive design rely on PEM® fasteners to provide firm and durable anchoring in thin-walled sheets, printed circuit boards, or plastic parts. The use of these fasteners allows for the use of thinner sheets, thereby reducing overall material costs while maintaining structural integrity.
Installation Tips
When installing PEM® miniature self-clinching fasteners, it is crucial to follow specific guidelines to ensure proper attachment and functionality. First, the correct hole sizes must be determined from the relevant data sheets. It is essential not to deburr or countersink the mounting holes, as this could compromise the clinching process. The fasteners should be installed on the punch side of the hole, and PEM® parts should never be driven in with a hammer. Maintaining minimum edge distances is essential to avoid deformation near the edges of the sheet. Additionally, PEM® parts made of steel or stainless steel in aluminum sheets should only be installed after anodizing to ensure proper adhesion and corrosion resistance.
Technical Specifications
PEM® miniature fasteners are engineered to fit into minimal spaces while providing strong, reusable threads. They are available in various types, including FE, FEO, UL, FEX, FEOX, and U, each offering different thread locking and running characteristics. Types FE, FEO, and UL are self-locking, with their thread-locking torque performance meeting or exceeding applicable NASM25027 specifications. For those requiring free-running threads, FEX, FEOX, and U are available, conforming to class 2B/6H thread standards. Thread tolerances for these nuts are 6H, with studs available in 6g/4h. Additionally, these fasteners can be ordered with UNC/UNF coarse threads upon request. Surface protection options include zinc-plated steel parts with a 5-6 µm plating thickness and passivated stainless steel, with other finishes available to meet specific application needs.
Conclusion
PEM®'s miniature self-clinching fasteners are vital in modern manufacturing, providing durable, efficient, and reliable fastening solutions across various industries. Their ability to maintain the integrity of original parts, combined with the variety of available types and sizes, makes them an indispensable choice for engineers and manufacturers working with sheet metal and other thin materials.
HTF can help manufacturers choose from our inventory of PEM fasteners to discern which will be best for their industry. This helps our clients make well-informed decisions to streamline assembly processes and enhance the overall integrity of their finished products. With HTF's commitment to prompt service, including same-day shipping from a single location when orders are placed by 3 PM Eastern, you'll get efficient procurement and support for your projects. Get a quote for supplying your operations today.
