Proto Tech Tip: Self-Clinching Fastener Guide

Every week, Team Protocase is bringing you a Proto Tech Tip video, where we’ll give an informative look at a particular aspect of sheet metal fabrication and CNC Machining.

This week, we’ve got Daniel from our Engineering & Design Services team reviewing the different self-clinching fastener types that we offer at Protocase, and how they’re useful.

Watch the full video below – or, if you’d prefer to read his Proto Tech Tip, we’ve got the full transcription below the video.

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Hey everyone, Daniel here, with a Proto Tech Tip. Today, it’s all about self-clinching fasteners.

A self-clinching fastener is a threaded or non- threaded device that is permanently inserted in sheet metal. We offer many different styles of fasteners here at Protocase and I have some examples here I’d like to show you.

A panel fastener is a toolless device installed on the outside of the mounting part. It has a threaded stud on a spring that allows you to push and fasten into a threaded receptacle.

A tie-down fastener can give you a point inside your enclosure to neatly organize and tie up any kind of loose wiring or cables.

A stud gives you a permanently threaded screw inside your enclosure that can be used for many different purposes, including mounting or grounding components.

A pilot pin is a simple unthreaded rod that can be used for such applications as locating components inside your enclosure.

A threaded nut can be used for mounting parts or components together.

A right-angle fastener can be installed into a part and will allow you to thread into it at a 90 degree angle.

A standoff gives you an internal thread which can be used to mount things like motherboards or PCBs.

A blind nut gives you an internal thread, which is encapsulated. These are typically used to prevent any foreign material from entering inside of enclosure.

And finally a flush nut – these can be used to create a mounting point which is flush on both sides of your part.

As you can see there are many styles of self-clinching fasteners that can be used for a wide range of purposes. If you have a design and are unsure how to mount your parts or components together, let us know and we’ll recommend a fastener to suit your needs.

Feel free to check out our website for more information regarding these self clinching fasteners we put some direct links in the description below. Be sure to also check out our blog, which outlines many other technical tips, or just send us an email at info@protocase.com. Thanks for watching this week’s video. Tune in again next week for another Proto Tech Tip.