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Installation Guidelinesfor SOUTHCO® Self-Clinching products
Self-clinching product installation is offered on these
SOUTHCO® products, making them easy-to-use captive
panel fasteners:
When pressed into a properly prepared hole, self-clinching captive
fasteners cold-flow (move) the panel material into the retaining groove of
the fastener. This material then retains the fastener in the panel.
Before installation Correct installation
Over installation
Mounting hole
diameter Panel
1.5 x Ø Min. Centerline of mounting hole
Ferrule Rollover
Ferrule Ferrule
Panel
Panel
Area of material
that moves into
groove
Mounting hole
Die side
of panel
Material
thickness
Punch side
of panel
Panel
This area of material
has separated from
the rest of the panel
Successful press-in installations depend on:
Material:
The hardness of the panel material must not exceed SOUTHCO®
recommendations. If the panel is too hard, the fastener will not install
correctly.
Installation Holes:
Mounting holes may be drilled, punched, or cast.
• Holeedge:thetopholeedgemust
be sharp but with no broken edges.
Do not chamfer or debur edge.
•Punchedholes:useapunchanddie
with a small clearance to minimize
the rollover and fracture angle.
•Holediameter:measurethehole
diameter at the panel surface on
the side on which the fastener will
be installed. The diameter must be
within SOUTHCO® specifications for
that product.
- If the hole is too large, not
enough material will flow into the
retaining groove and the fastener may not be retained adequately.
- If the hole is too small, the fastener will not fit and installation may
become difficult and unsafe.
• Holedistancefromtheedgeofpanel:theminimumrecommended
distance is 1.5 x the diameter of the mounting hole, unless
otherwise indicated.
• Captive Screws
• Receptacles for Quarter-turn Fasteners
• Receptacles for Fast-lead Thread Screws
• Spring-loaded Plungers
• Captive Nuts
• Threaded Inserts
- Installing too close to the edge will cause the material to flow in the
opposite direction, deforming the edge of the panel. To install closer
to the edge, you may need to restrain the panel edge.
Panel edge
Before installation Correct installation Over installation
Mounting hole
diameter Panel
1.5 x Ø Min. Centerline of mounting hole
Ferrule Rollover
Ferrule Ferrule Ferrule
Panel
Panel
Area of material
that moves into
groove
Mounting hole
Die side
of panel
Material
thickness
Punch side
of panel
Panel
This area of material
has separated from
the rest of the panel
Panel Thickness:
The thickness of the panel at the mounting hole location must meet or
exceed Southco’s stated minimum recommendations.
If the material is too thin, panel deformation and/or damage to the
fastener may result.
Installation is fast and easy if you follow these tips:
How to install: Use the recommended force where noted and a proper
back-up tool.
- use any parallel-acting press
- use a punch whose diameter is larger than the head of the fastener
Installation Force: Proper installation requires an even distribution of
adequate force. It does not depend on the distance the fastener is pressed
into the panel.
- Southco does not recommend using a hammer. The impact force
does not provide an even distribution of force to allow the panel
material to completely flow into the fastener’s retaining groove.
- Installation force varies from application to application,
depending on the criteria noted above.
- On parts without a collar to provide a hard stop, press-in until the
edge of the knurl is just barely visible.
When to Install:
Installation is recommended after plating or finishing has been applied to
the panel.
The hole diameter must meet specifications
before finish or plating is applied.
- Do not over-install parts. This interupts
the material and will reduce the
retention strength.
Panel edge
Before installation Correct installation Over installation
Mounting hole
diameter Panel
1.5 x Ø Min. Centerline of mounting hole
Ferrule
Rollover
Ferrule Ferrule Ferrule
Panel
Panel
Area of material
that moves into
groove
Mounting hole
Die side
of panel
Material
thickness
Punch side
of panel
Panel
This area of material
has separated from
the rest of the panel
Panel edge
Before installation Correct installation
Over installation
Mounting hole
diameter Panel
1.5 x Ø Min. Centerline of mounting hole
Ferrule Rollover
Ferrule Ferrule
Ferrule
Panel
Panel
Area of material
that moves into
groove
Mounting hole
Die side
of panel
Material
thickness
Punch side
of panel
Panel
This area of material
has separated from
the rest of the panel
Panel edge
Before installation Correct installation Over installation
Mounting hole
diameter Panel
1.5 x Ø Min. Centerline of mounting hole
Ferrule
Rollover
Ferrule Ferrule Ferrule
Panel
Panel
Area of material
that moves into
groove
Mounting hole
Die side
of panel
Material
thickness
Punch side
of panel
Panel
This area of material
has separated from
the rest of the panel