PEM® floating self-clinching nuts for stainless steel assemblies enable easier mating-hole alignment to promote design flexibility in relaxed tolerance applications. These fasteners from PennEngineering® can be specified either with non-locking or self-locking threads and will permit up to .015” / 0.38mm minimum float in all directions from center. Their unique engineering further imparts added strength…

New PEM® self-clinching nuts and studs introduced for permanent installation into especially hard sheet materials deliver design and assembly benefits for automotive component attachment applications. Both types (SHTM hard panel nuts and HFLHTM hard panel studs) are manufactured from hardened alloy steel to provide stronger thread strength. They further enable close-to-edge mounting without risking panel…

By Ron Dise, Corporate Senior Technology Specialist, PennEngineering Self-clinching fasteners are a good way to attach thin metal assemblies. Here are tips on how to ensure proper installation. Self-clinching fasteners deliver time-tested solutions for attaching thin metal assemblies. Regardless of type, these fasteners install permanently in thin ductile metal sheets when pressed into place in…

PennEngineering® (Danboro, PA, USA) has acquired PROFIL Verbindungstechnik (Friedrichsdorf, Germany), it was announced by both companies. PROFIL will continue to operate as a separate company under the PennEngineering corporate umbrella and the PROFIL brand of mechanical hardware will remain unaffected. In addition, Dr. Frank Grunow, CEO of PROFIL and Petra Michels, Chief Financial Officer, will…

New PEM® Type TSO4™ self-clinching stainless steel standoffs introduced by PennEngineering® provide ideal fastener solutions for stacking or spacing components to (or from) ultra-thin stainless steel panels. These specially hardened stainless fasteners install reliably and permanently into stainless steel sheets as thin as .025”/0.63mm with only a single mating screw required for final component attachment.…

New microPEM® TackSert™ pins introduce reliable fastener solutions to attach top panels securely to a base panel or chassis in compact electronic assemblies. These pins provide practical alternatives to micro screws by eliminating the typically costly issues associated with threaded hardware (including inserts, tapping, cross threading, torque control, and vibration back out). They will attach…

PEM® self-clinching fasteners for use in stainless steel assemblies install reliably and permanently into thin stainless steel sheets and enable lighter designs by minimizing hardware parts count. This growing family of special hardened stainless fasteners includes a wide range of types and styles with some providing the added benefit of excellent corrosion resistance to protect…

PEM® C.A.P.S.® captive access panel screws integrate a captive screw in a spring-loaded assembly to provide “all-in-one” hardware solutions to securely attach panels, covers, drawers, racks, or other access points and subsequently enable ready access inside whenever necessary. Their integrated screw eliminates handling, installation, and service problems typically resulting from loose hardware and further reduces…

PEM Types PF50 and PF60 self-clinching captive panel screws keep hardware parts count to a minimum by integrating a captive screw in a spring-loaded assembly to promote easy and efficient handling and installation.  Their permanent mounting in thin metal assemblies additionally eliminates any risks associated with loose hardware that could fall out, get lost, or misplaced…

PEMSpec™ , an innovative, breakthrough product application designed to enhance catalog/data sheet experiences via mobile device technology has been launched by PennEngineering, a leader in specialty fasteners. Leon Attarian, Director of Global Marketing for PennEngineering, states, “we wanted a tool that our design engineer customers could utilize to quickly search our entire product database and…

PEMSERT self-clinching flush nuts introduce solutions for attachment applications where thin metal sheets can benefit from the introduction of strong load-bearing threads without creating any protrusions on either side.  Upon their permanent installation in aluminum or steel sheets as thin as .060” / 1.5mm, both the top and bottom of the sheet remain flush with only…

PEM® SpotFast® self-clinching fasteners enable two sheets to be joined permanently in a flush-attachment connection without protrusions on either side.  These practical alternatives to riveting or spot welding provide ideal solutions to attach two metal sheets too thin to weld, fasten sheets of unequal thicknesses, join dissimilar metals, attach ultra-thin metal sections, or join metal…

A new comprehensive product bulletin available free from PennEngineering® profiles the complete line of microPEM™ fasteners ideally suited for attachment applications in compact electronic assemblies.  These extremely small fasteners can serve as practical, cost-effective, and permanently secure solutions enabling quicker assembly of devices ranging from hand-held consumer electronics including tablets, phones, and laptops to medical…

PennEngineering® has launched the new PEMspec™ app available in the iTunes® app store for free download. Formatted to be viewed on the iPhone®, the app also can be handled with an iPad®. This new app is designed to enable users to access critical installation dimensions for a selected PEM® fastener from the complete line of…

PEM® unthreaded KEYHOLE® and SNAP-TOP® standoff fasteners provide ideal solutions to mount and detach PC boards, panels, or components easily without requiring any tools or additional hardware. Both families of fasteners are uniquely designed to provide secure and reliable attachment, reduce or eliminate risks associated with loose hardware potentially damaging internal circuitry, and ultimately enable…

The Atlas Monel blind threaded inserts (Type AEKM) suit attachment applications where equipment or components are exposed to harsh conditions. The high-strength, nickel-copper alloy 400 products feature a minimal profile head allowing for near-flush installation without requiring special hole preparation such as countersinking or dimpling. The RoHS-compliant inserts can be installed quickly using Atlas Spin-Pull,…

Reprint Info >> As design methods evolve, the fasteners and joining tools available to you change too. Here’s a look at some of the newer offerings. The methods and products available to attach two pieces of a design together are multiple and varied to meet nearly every conceivable need. However, new needs constantly arise. Today’s…

PEM® Types PF7M™ and PF7MF™ captive panel screws introduce two distinct mounting styles for permanent installation into thin sheets. Both types feature small, compact, and low-profile designs for limited access areas. The screws also have the MAThread® anti-cross threading technology that easily corrects off-angle installations, aligns components, and slides through clogged internal threads. Their Phillips…

By Jay McKenna, Global Product Manager New Products, PennEngineering, Danboro, Penn Reprint Info>> As electronic devices continue to miniaturize, the fasteners required to assemble them are becoming smaller as well. Extremely small micro fasteners have made significant inroads in the global marketplace especially with the ongoing evolution of smaller, lighter, and thinner consumer electronic devices.…

The expanded family of patented PEM® R’ANGLE® fasteners provide efficient and reliable methods to create permanent right-angle attachment points in thin metal assemblies or printed circuit boards. The product line includes self-clinching types for installation in thin metal sheets and ReelFast® SMT surface mount fasteners for use with printed circuit boards. The R’ANGLE clinch fasteners…

Design innovations certainly owe much to advances in technology, evolving marketplace trends (such as smaller, thinner, and lighter), the particular or unique requirements of an application, and many other interrelated influences. Design engineers also play vital roles as innovators when they strive to attain a lower assembled cost for their designs, in effect achieving more…

The PEM® Cost Savings Investigation (CSISM) Program introduces a free service to assist companies in potentially reducing their total “assembled cost” of products and designs. The CSI Program is an exclusive resource supported by the global fastening expertise of PennEngineering® to provide focused product analysis and identify “better ways” to achieve assembly-related economies and efficiencies.…

By Jay McKenna Jay McKenna is the Special Products Manager, PennEngineering Integrating a printed circuit board (PCB) into an assembly is often a custom job. Every application can require a different board location. In addition, part geometry and surface finish, solder paste, and surface mounting conditions change frequently. Some boards must be stacked or spaced,…

By Leon M. Attarian Leon M. Attarian is Director of Marketing at Penn Engineering   A closer look at self-clinching fastener product families: • Nuts. Standard types have load-bearing thread strengths greater than mild steel screws. Variations focus on nut size, locking-thread properties, and special alloy materials for manufacture. All clinching during installation occurs on…