Displaying items by tag: PennEngineering

November 1, 2018 - PEM® self-clinching SH™ nuts and HFLH™ studs from PennEngineering® can successfully install in high-strength thin steel sheets to provide permanent threads for mating hardware in automotive component attachment applications. These hard panel nuts and studs manufactured from hardened alloy steel ultimately exhibit stronger thread strength compared with conventional fasteners. The fasteners additionally eliminate the environmental-related issues typically associated with alternative thin-sheet fastening devices.

Due to a lightweight design and reduced need for loose hardware such as washers, these fasteners can contribute to overall weight reductions in vehicle assemblies. Lower installed cost can be gained from the elimination of embossing operations and the capability to install automatically using a standard press or in-die technology. Small outer diameters of the fasteners enable close-to-edge mounting without risking sheet buckling and, upon installation, the reverse side of the host sheet will remain flush and unmarred for a clean appearance.

PEM SH nuts are engineered to install into high-strength steel sheets at 975MPa maximum ultimate tensile and as hard as HRC 30 or less on the Rockwell “C” scale. Host panels can be as thin as 1.4 mm / .056 in. Standard thread sizes are M6, M8, and M10 for metric nuts and ¼-20, 5/16-18, and 3/8-16 for unified versions.

PEM HFLH studs will install successfully into high-strength steel sheets at 700MPa maximum ultimate tensile and as hard as HRB 91 or less on the Brinell scale. Host panels can be as thin as 1mm / .040 in. Standard thread sizes are M5, M6, and M8 for metric studs and #10-32, ¼-20, and 5/16-18 for unified versions.

October 18, 2018 - New PEM® PreTect™ thread masking plugs from PennEngineering® will protect internal threads of self-clinching nuts and standoffs during paint and powder coating processes. The pre-installed silicone masking plugs – supplied already in place – have been designed for self-clinching blind standoffs, thru-hole standoffs, and nuts in thread sizes #4-40 to ¼-20 and M3 to M6. Plugs can be augmented for thru-hole fastener types with a specially engineered stretched polyester film offering thread protection on the side opposite the plug. Plugs and film can be removed easily using a fine tip tool when processes are completed.

All self-clinching fasteners provide permanent and reusable load-bearing threads in metal sheets too thin to be tapped or where extruded or stamped threads would be impractical. Usually installed during the fabrication process – before an assembly would undergo painting or powder coating – self-clinching fasteners become integral components. The new plugs and film ensure that paints or powder coatings will not impact the thread integrity of installed fasteners as assemblies move through production.

The plugs and film can reduce labor requirements by eliminating any need to manually mask fastener threads in advance of coating processes or subsequently clean contaminated threads. They have been engineered to withstand temperatures up to 482ºF and 250ºC and fasteners with the feature can be installed automatically to achieve additional production economies.

August 14, 2018 - PEM SFN spinning flare nuts from PennEngineering become permanently captivated upon installation in thin metal sheets and, when paired with a self-clinching stud or other fixed externally threaded hardware, can eliminate all loose fasteners (including flange nuts) in attachment applications. These one-piece, flanged hex nuts additionally will spin freely in a sheet enabling quick attachment to mating hardware. Their use ultimately promotes savings in assembly time and costs.

PEM SFN steel spinning flare nuts install in steel, stainless steel, or aluminum sheets of any hardness and as thin as 1mm. They are available in metric thread sizes M5, M6, and 8.

Permanent installation is accomplished by inserting the nut into a properly sized, pre-punched, and embossed mounting hole in a metal sheet and then applying sufficient squeezing force to flare the fastener’s shank. When installed, the part will appear identical to a standard flanged hex nut above the sheet and will remain flush on the other side.

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736

July 10, 2018 - ATLAS® SpinTite® blind threaded inserts from PennEngineering®, Danboro, Pennsylvania, provide strong, permanent, and reusable threads in thin sheet materials where only one side is accessible for hardware installation. Installation is performed from the accessible “front” side using spin-spin tooling technology. The inserts then become permanently mounted on the “back” side to accept a mating screw for final component attachment. The “blind” installation capability especially suits applications such as tubing, extrusions, and others where access to the back side is either limited or nonexistent.

These steel, aluminum, brass, or stainless steel inserts ideally replace tapped holes, weld nuts, rivets, self-drilling or tapping screws, and through-bolted applications necessitating loose hardware. They support close-to-edge applications and can be installed at any stage during the production process (even after assemblies have been painted). In service, the inserts exhibit high thread strength and high torque-out resistance.

ATLAS SpinTite inserts have been designed for use with panels or sheets of any hardness or material (including metal, plastics, and fiberglass) and as thin as .020” / 0.51mm. They additionally can assemble multiple dissimilar materials during installation, eliminating any need to perform spot welding or other secondary operations, saving time and money during production.

This family of inserts includes half-hex shank low-profile head, rib-wall minimized-profile head, rib-wall low-profile head, thin-wall low-profile head, and swaging low-profile head versions. A variety of available thread sizes range from #6-32 to 1/2”-13 and M4 to M12, depending on insert type. Custom inserts also can be engineered to satisfy specific application performance requirements.

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736

June 4, 2018 - PEM® TSO4™self-clinching threaded standoffs from PennEngineering offer reliable fastener solutions to securely stack or space components in ultra-thin stainless steel assemblies. These hardened stainless steel fasteners clinch into stainless sheets as thin as .025 in. / 0.63mm and become permanent parts of an assembly. The standoffs ultimately will reduce the amount of required hardware in an assembly, promote thinner and lighter designs, and minimize typical handling issues associated with loose hardware.

Among unique design features, the fastener’s thread design at the barrel end minimizes the length for a mating screw. Shorter standoffs are typically thru-threaded and longer standoffs are blind. Thread-type variations with a thicker wall can further be specified to provide increased bearing surface for the mating component or panel. For applications in potentially corrosive environments, an optional nickel plating can be added for excellent corrosion resistance.

PEM TSO4 standoffs are available in thru-threaded or blind threaded versions and in a variety of lengths and several standard thread sizes (#2-56, #4-40, and #6-32 / M2.5, M3, and M3.5). They are manufactured from hardened 400 Series stainless steel for use in stainless sheets with maximum hardness up to HRB 88 on the Rockwell “B” scale or HB 183 on the Brinell scale.

The standoffs mount simply and quickly by pressing the fastener into a round hole in the host sheet and applying sufficient squeezing force using a standard press to embed the standoff’s head flush in the sheet and complete the process. A single mating screw completes the attachment process. 

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736
www.pemnet.com

May 9, 2018 - New stainless steel PEM® TK™TackSert® pins from PennEngineering introduce ideal alternatives to screws for attaching thin panels in assemblies. They can securely attach panels of any material to base panels manufactured from common casting materials (such as AZ91D) or plastics (such as ABS and printed circuit boards). Unique design features promote reliable performance in service.

PEM TK TackSert pins deliver multiple advantages over screws by eliminating any need for mating threads from tapped holes or inserts and the rework frequently required due to screw cross-threading and driver bit “cam-out.” Patches intended to prevent fastener loosening in service are unnecessary.

Among pin design features, a tapered tip assists in pin location to enable easier alignment into a base panel, a specially engineered diagonal broaching knurl (instead of threads) creates a firm interference fit without hole-tolerance issues, and a low-profile head minimizes protrusion on the attached panel.

The pins are offered in a variety of lengths and can successfully attach sheets with thicknesses from .067 in. / 1.7mm to .185 in. / 4.7mm, depending on pin length. 

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736
www.pemnet.com

The TRI-DENT feature on PEM Type SL self-clinching steel locknuts helps hold mating screws tight by providing sufficient torsional resistance to withstand vibration, thermal cycling, and other disruptive forces. These locknuts also will allow for the screws to be removed and re-attached repeatedly without compromising the locking threads.

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736
www.pemnet.com

PEMSERT self-clinching flush nuts are ideal for applications where a thin metal sheet requires load-bearing threads stronger than tapped holes but cannot have any protrusions on either side of the sheet. They can be installed before sheet bending and forming to provide threads for mating hardware in sections that otherwise would be inaccessible after forming.

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736
www.pemnet.com

Aluminum and stainless steel microPEM TackSert pins eliminate the need for mating threads from tapped holes or inserts and the rework frequently required due to screw cross-threading and driver bit “cam-out.” Patches intended to prevent fastener loosening in service also are unnecessary.

PennEngineering
Danboro, Pennsylvania
800/237-4736
www.pemnet.com