Posted to News on 13th Oct 2009, 00:00
Reducing cost and installation time
Pierce and rivet fastening specialist Profil (UK) has introduced a brand new series of self piercing nuts for sheet metal applications. The new RSD fasteners are available with M6 or M8 threads, capable of piercing up to 1.6mm and 2.00mm steel panels respectively. They incorporate a large flange for extremely high pull through resistance and typically achieve 16-20Nm torque performance under production conditions, making them particularly suitable for automotive, electrical equipment, white goods and enclosure applications.
The new fasteners are 30% lighter than Profil's popular RND series nuts and provide a flush finish on the exterior of the panel, optimising the contact area between assembled parts and minimising the risk of handling damage. With a shorter installed length than competitive products, the new anchors also offer additional cost benefits through the use of shorter screws in like-for-like assembly applications and reduced storage space requirements for stacked components.
In common with other Profil fasteners, RSD nuts offer substantial piece part and installation speed advantages over alternative assembly methods, such as riveted or captive nuts and welded anchors, to provide vibration-resistant and watertight fixings with an absolute positional accuracy of 0.2mm in a wide variety of coated or uncoated materials. They also deliver inherent energy cost, quality and safety benefits over unsightly welded fasteners and can be installed automatically in pressed components as part of their manufacturing process. In addition, RSD nuts are equally suitable for manual or 'C' frame press installation for lower volume production applications.
This has been a busy time for the company, which has also introduced the NBR threaded stud and REN nut. NBR studs incorporate a shouldered profile for accurate assembly positioning and a generous thread lead-in for use with high speed nut running equipment, while the REN nut has been developed to provide exceptional torque and pull through performance in heavy gauge metal panels up to 9.00mm thick. It is ideal for applications subject to intense dynamic, static and shock loading, such as those found in vehicle chassis and suspension assemblies, and is available with M8-M16 threads.
Among its applications, Profil has extensive expertise within the automotive industry and the construction industry, with the likes of its RSN and RND high strength rivet nuts at the heart of an over-moulded bonnet latch assembly on Audi vehicles, as well as the provision of high strength anchorage points in the construction of modular buildings and a series of installations on Land-Rover, Mini and BMW models - in areas ranging from wing mirror retention to safety-critical engine, gearbox and subframe mountings.
A key feature of these products is the way they can deliver a productivity boost by reducing installation times. Feeding and insertion equipment can install more than 100 fasteners per minute - at least an order of magnitude faster than riveted or welded methods.
