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Unit 3 Durham Lane
Armthorpe
Doncaster
South Yorkshire DN3 3FE
England
+44 (0)1302 836010
+44 (0)1302 831555
sales@npfasteners.com
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© Northern Precision Ltd.
NORTHERN PRECISION LTD
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system in accordance with ISO 9001.
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you can be assured of the benefits of working with a
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systems are constantly assessed and improved.
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Mon - Fri 08:00 - 17:00
Registered in England & Wales
Company number 3275391
V.A.T Registration number
GB 684 1384 17
NORTHERN PRECISION LTD
Specialist Fasteners
for Sheet Metal
+44 (0) 1302 836010
+44 (0) 1302 831555
Tel:
Fax:
sales@npfasteners.com
Quality
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SERVICES & SUPPORT
Clinch Nuts
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Self-Clinching fastener
Do’s and Don’ts
Self-Clinching fastener
problem solving guides
Self-Clinch in harder panels
Testing Method
Test panel held
firmly in vice.
Applied torque
from dial measuring
torque wrench.
Flat washer
2 pitch min.
Bolt (Grade 5 min.) Ensure
full thread engagement
(min. 6 threads
recommended).
Torque-out testing of Self-Clinching Standoffs should be performed by the gradual application of torque as shown, while
the test panel is securely held in a vice. The bolt must be of a sufficient grade to resist thread stripping.
Torque must be gradually applied until failure is observed and a maximum applied torque reading is recorded. Failure
mode is the standoff turning in the panel or cam-out.
Performance
Thread
code
M2.5
M3
5.4M2.5
5.4M3
M3.5
Standoff
material
Aluminium
Steel
300 Stainless
Aluminium
Steel
300 Stainless
400 Stainless
Aluminium
Steel
300 Stainless
Aluminium
Steel
300 Stainless
400 Stainless
Installation
(kN)
6.9
6.9
6.9
n/a
9.0
9.0
25.5
7.9
7.9
7.9
n/a
11.5
11.5
31.0
Pushout
(N)
325
325
325
n/a
450
450
575
425
425
425
n/a
675
675
725
Torque-out
(Nm)
0.7
0.7
0.7
n/a
1.0
1.0
1.5
1.25
1.25
1.25
n/a
1.75
1.75
2.5
Aluminium
Test sheet
material
Steel
300 Stainless
Aluminium
Steel
300 Stainless
All performance figures are averages obtained over a range of installations and should be used as an indicator
only. Panel material, hole preparation, installation tooling and method can affect part performance. We always
recommend that you carry out your own tests in the actual application. Please call our sales team and we will be
happy to provide you with samples as well as offering technical assistance.
Installation
First punch or drill the correct size hole. Do not deburr or chamfer the hole prior to installation as this will
remove material required during the clinching process. It is preferable to install the fastener from the punch
side of the panel.
Place the fastener in the prepared hole in the panel and then locate the fastener in the anvil, ensuring that
you are using the appropriate anvil type for the panel thickness like in the diagram.
With the panel held level, apply a parallel squeezing force until the hexagon head is installed flush to the
panel surface. Do not over squeeze the fastener into the panel as this will result in panel deformation.
When installing Self-Clinching fasteners, please pay attention to the minimum hole centreline to edge and
parent material hardness limitations.
Anvil Dimensions
A
+0.07
5.42
4.23
Thread
code
5.4M2.5|5.4M3|M3.5
M2.5|M3
B
+0.09
6.44
4.84
120°
B
A
A
Length of
standoff
+5mm min.
Length of
standoff
+5mm min.
Countersunk hole style
anvil for 0.81mm or less.
Hole style anvil for 0.81mm
and over panel thickness.
Do not remove any extra material or
chamfer the hole as this could result in
improper installation or reduced
performance.
HRB (ROCKWELL HARDNESS B SCALE)
Ensure that you are installing into a
panel that is ductile and at or below the
published maximum recommended
hardness for the fastener.
Ensure that attention is paid to the
minimum hole centreline to edge
dimension for each fastener. Installing
too close to an edge or bend could result
in improper installation or reduced
performance. Minimum centreline to
edge dimensions shown for each
fastener apply to one edge only. If this
distance is applied on multiple sides
there will be significant panel distortion
unless the panel edges are supported
during installation.
Material & Finish
Electro Zinc Plated Steel (ZI) parts are suitable for installation in ductile panels with a
maximum recommended hardness of 60 HRB.
300 Series Stainless Steel (A2) parts are suitable for installation in ductile panels with a
maximum recommended hardness of 70 HRB.
400 Series Stainless Steel (400) parts are suitable for installation in ductile panels with a
maximum recommended hardness of 88 HRB.
Aluminium (AL) parts are suitable for installation in ductile panels with a maximum
recommended hardness of 50 HRB.
Part Number Examples
Part number is made up as follows:
(Type)-(Thread Code)-(Length)-(Material/Finish Code)
For example:
NTSO-M3-10-A2 (Thin panel standoff-M3 thread-10mm long-stainless steel)
NTSO-5.4M2.5-4-AL(Thin panel standoff-M2.5thread (larger body)-4mm long-aluminium)
NTSO-M3.5-8-ZI (Thin panel standoff-M3.5 thread-8mm long-electro zinc plated steel)
Info
Self-Clinching Thin Panel Standoffs provide strong captivated reusable female threads in a spacer format in panels
as thin as 0.63mm.
Utilising a hexagon head and a special proven clinch feature, this fastener has excellent torque-out, pull-through
and push-out characteristics whilst providing a flush finish on the underside of the panel, meaning that minimal
surface finishing is required after installation.
Like all self clinching fasteners they are installed using a parallel squeezing action, so require access to both sides of
the panel.
Self-Clinching Thin Panel Standoffs are available in a range of thread sizes and lengths, manufactured from electro
zinc plated carbon steel, 300 and 400 series stainless steel, aluminium and are suitable for installation in ductile
panels with a recommended maximum hardness of 60 HRB for steel parts, 70 HRB for 300 series stainless steel
parts, 88 HRB for 400 series stainless steel parts and 50 HRB for aluminium parts.
Dimensional Data
Self-Clinching fastener
Do’s & Don’ts
Self-Clinching fastener
problem solving guides
Downloadable
Data Sheet
Back
Type NTSO
SELF-CLINCHING
THIN PANEL STANDOFFS
Hardened bushing with
sufficient wall thickness
to withstand applied
compression load.
Head Dia.
+ 1.6mm
Test panel.
Applied Load from
compression gauge.
Compression rig base.
Push-out testing of Self-Clinching Standoffs should be performed by the gradual application of a load as shown above.
Bushing height should be sufficient to allow free downward movement of the standoff during testing. The bushing bore
must be centred on the hexagon head of the standoff.