December 15, 2016
New aluminum versions of SI® brand threaded inserts from PennEngineering® introduce lead-free and lightweight alternatives to brass counterparts and offer ideal solutions to eliminate potential environmental and recycling issues while contributing to overall lighter assemblies. The aluminum option – approximately 70% lighter than brass equivalents – can be specified for all types of SI inserts and augments the standard line of brass and corrosion-resistant lead-free stainless steel products. All provide durable and reusable metal threads in plastics to accept mating hardware and subsequently allow for access to an assembly whenever required.
Applications for SI threaded inserts include plastic enclosures or components for the consumer electronics, medical, automotive, aerospace, transportation, and recreational industries, among many others.
Whether manufactured from aluminum, stainless steel, or brass, the SI product line for plastic assemblies includes ultrasonic / heat staking inserts for installation ultrasonically or with a thermal press, molded-in types installed during the molding process, and press-in types installed by pressing the insert into a pre-molded or drilled hole.
All install permanently and, unlike fixed and unyielding joining methods (such as adhesives or rivets), the inserts ultimately offer the capability to disassemble and re-attach plastic components easily and quickly without damaging the threads, compromising attachment integrity, or otherwise adversely impacting an assembly.
SI threaded inserts have been engineered in a variety of designs and lengths – including micro fastener versions with threads as small as M1 – and can be supplied in unified or metric thread sizes. Detailed specifications, fastener drawings and models, and performance data (Bulletin SI) for these fasteners can be accessed at www.pemnet.com
Founded in 1942 and headquartered in Danboro, PA, USA, PennEngineering is a global leader in the fastening industry with technical and manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia supported by a global engineering-focused sales force and a worldwide network of authorized distributors.
