Self Clinching Fasteners
Press nuts, specifically broaching nuts, are specialized mechanical fasteners designed to provide robust threaded inserts for non-ductile or brittle materials such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), fiberglass, and hard plastics. Rather than relying on cold flow, these fasteners feature an axially knurled shank that physically cuts or "broaches" into the host material during press installation, creating a tight interference fit with excellent rotational and pull-out resistance. Typically manufactured from stainless or tin-plated steel, they offer a permanent, heat-free fastening solution that is indispensable in electronic component mounting and specialized telecom rack assembly.
Press nuts, widely known in the industry as broaching nuts, are specialized mechanical fasteners designed to press-fit into non-ductile, brittle, or hard materials where traditional self-clinching fasteners would fail. Unlike self-clinching nuts that rely on the cold flow of ductile host metals, broaching nuts feature a heavily knurled or serrated shank. During press installation, this aggressive knurl physically cuts—or "broaches"—its way into the host material. This action creates a permanent, tight interference fit that yields exceptional rotational torque-out and axial pull-out resistance. They offer a reliable, heat-free fastening solution that is indispensable for mounting components to printed circuit boards and composite panels.
Because broaching nuts must physically cut into tough substrates like glass laminates and resins, they are manufactured from high-strength materials, most commonly 300 Series Stainless Steel.
To cater to the electronics and aerospace industries where conductivity, solderability, and corrosion resistance are paramount, they are supplied in specific finishes:
Broaching nuts are defined by their superior Interference Fit, providing reliable Pull-Out Resistance and Torque-Out Resistance. They are commonly categorized into types such as Type KF2 and Type KFS2. To meet various vibration requirements, they are available in both Locking (Prevailing Torque) and Non-Locking thread configurations.
These fasteners comply with rigorous international standards:
Thread types include standard Metric, Unified National Coarse (UNC), and Unified National Fine (UNF) formats to interface with a wide variety of mating hardware.
Broaching nuts are specifically engineered for materials that do not cold-flow, making them the fastener of choice for:
Press nuts, or broaching nuts, bridge a critical gap in fastening technology by allowing robust, reusable metal threads to be embedded into brittle and non-ductile materials. By physically broaching into the substrate to create a high-strength interference fit, these fasteners ensure the secure, heat-free assembly of sensitive electronic boards and advanced composite structures.
Our broaching nuts are available in a range of sizes, materials, and standards. Contact us for a detailed specifications sheet and competitive bulk pricing.
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