Flush fastener joins PCBs to sheet metal

Paul Boughton
Penn Engineering is introducing a new PEM Spotfast fastener, known as the type SFK, that permanently joins metal sheets to PC boards or plastic panels and creates a flush-attachment connection. These fasteners offer a practical alternative to riveting or adhesives and their rotational capability extends application potential with the fastener serving as a single flush-mounted pivot point.
 
The SFK steel fasteners install smooth with the top metal sheet and flush or sub-flush with the bottom panel. When used as a pivot point, the top metal sheet is captivated between the head of the fastener and the lower (non-rotating) panel, which allows the metal sheet to rotate freely.
 
An innovative design featuring two separate clinch and knurl joining profiles holds the key to the fastener's success. Squeezing the fastener into place using a punch and anvil causes the metal to cold-flow into the fastener's clinch profile, while the knurled end adopts a broaching fit in the PC board or plastic panel.
 
Standard parts can be installed with minimal space requirements into metal sheets as thin as .031"/0.8mm with a hardness of 80 or less on the Rockwell B scale. Various head sizes and diameters are available to suit different applications.
 
A PDF product bulletin and part drawings for these RoHS-compliant fasteners can be downloaded from the Penn Engineering website.
 
For more information, visit www.pemnet.com

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