Self-Clinching Self Locking Nuts - Series CRT, CRTS, CRTA
Captive Fastener Brand of self clinching self locking nuts provide a low installed cost solution where a clinching fastener with repeat locking torque is required in thin metal panels. The design provides the design engineer with a locking feature with greater reusability and which minimizes the possibility of thread damage on the mating screw. The CRT (steel), CRTS (stainless steel), and CRTA (aluminum) self clinching lock nuts allow the design engineer to have excellent locking threads in panels as thin as .040” 1mm thick. The design of the self clinching locking nuts, provide a simple means of installation whereby the self clinching lock nut is placed into a pre-punched hole in the panel and when the squeezing force is applied the clinch nut becomes an integral part of the chassis.
The basic premise for the proper installation of the clinch nuts is that the fasteners must be harder than the panel into which they will be installed. The clinch fasteners also need to be installed into ductile materials such as steel, aluminum, or copper panels. The maximum recommended hardness for the CRT series of self clinching lock nuts is HRB 80 and the maximum panel hardness for CRTS is HRB 70 and HRB 50 for the CRTA series. The self clinching self locking nuts offer a locking thread, which is often desired in a design that may be subject to vibration, which may cause the mating screw to disengage from the nut. The locking feature can prevent the mating screw from backing out and possibly shorting out the electronic unit.
Installation of Self Clinching Lock Nuts
The way that self clinching locking nuts work is that when the fastener is placed into the proper size hole in the panel, the ductile material flows around the clinch profile and performs a permanent bond in the assembly. Due to the fact the clinch nuts are harder than the panels into which they will be installed they retain their dimensional integrity and physical properties. When installed the self clinching locking nuts have excellent torque out and push out resistance that meet or exceed industry standards. The proper hole sizes and minimum panel thickness is available in our catalog under the Dimensions & Specifications section.
The required installation force and push out and torque values are available in the Installation & Performance section or our Catalog. The locking clinch nuts offer a green solution that is cleaner than weld nuts and eliminates weld spatter and the subsequent need to chase the threads after the welding process.
The self clinching locking nuts are both REACH and RoHS compliant. If 2D and 3D prints are needed they can be downloaded from our product pages on the website.