Self-Clinching Hardware

A self-clinching fastener is any device, usually threaded, that, when pressed into metal, displaces the host material around the mounting hole, causing it to cold flow into a specially designed annular recess in the shank or pilot of the fastener. A serrated clinching ring, knurl, ribs or hex head prevents the fastener from rotating in the host material once it has been properly inserted.  They can be installed during fabrication or during final assembly to eliminate loose hardware. Self-clinching fasteners also support a thinner sheet metal, and permit a reduction in installation costs.  

Self-clinching fasteners should be specified whenever a component must be readily replaced and where “loose” nuts and hardware wouldn’t be accessible. If the attaching nuts and screws can’t be reached, self-clinching fasteners can be installed during metal fabrication and can simplify and expedite component mounting and assembly operations, including those performed in the field.

Advantages include:

• Providing strong threads or attachment in metal that is thin
• Providing high push-out and torque-out resistance
• No special hole preparation, such as chamfering and deburring
• Reverse side of metal sheet remains flush, no swaged rim projects
• No re-tapping necessary
• Lower installation costs

Fastbolt will will help you determine if self-clinching fasteners are the correct solution for your application.