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 buckling and resolve environmental concerns typically associated with alternative thin-sheet fastening devices.

In addition, these fasteners can promote lower installed cost by eliminating any need for embossing operations, reducing the amount of required hardware in an assembly, and installing automatically using a standard press or in-die technology.

Type SHTM hard panel nuts feature a small outer diameter and lightweight design. They can install reliably into high-strength steel sheets at 975MPa maximum ultimate tensile and in panels as hard as HRC 30 / HB 277 or less on the Rockwell “C” and Brinell scales, respectively. Host panels can be as thin as 1.4mm / .056” and, upon fastener installation, the reverse side of the panel remains flush to enhance cosmetics. Nut thread sizes range from M6 through M10 / 1⁄4-20 through 3/8-16.

Type HFLHTM hard panel studs can install into high-strength steel sheets at 700MPa maximum ultimate tensile and in panels as hard as HRB 96 / HB 216 or less on the Rockwell “B” and Brinell scales, respectively. Host panels can be as thin as 1mm / .040”. Stud thread sizes range from M5 though M8 /#10-32 through 5/16-18.

PEM
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