Coiled Spring Pin!? What the heck is that?
Posted: July 18, 2023 Filed under: Coiled Pins, Coiled Spring Pin, Fasteners, Inch, Pins, Spiral Pins | Tags: ASME Standard, Bulk Pins, Coil Pins, Coiled Pins, Coiled Spring Pins, Commercial Pins, Fasteners, Functional Equivalent Pins, Hardware, HD Coiled, Heavy Duty Fasteners, IOS Standard, Mechanical Fasteners, Metal, Metric Pins, Mi-spec pins, Pin-Spring, Pins for manufacturers, ROHS Compliant, Spiral Pins, Wholesale Pins Leave a comment
Welcome back to our “what the heck is that” series, where we discuss some of the unique fasteners and electronic hardware that manufacturers use in the design and assembly of their products. Today, we will introduce you to the Coiled Spring Pin! This mighty Non-Threaded Fastener, AKA Spiral Pin or Coiled Pin, is small in size, but it offers remarkable effectiveness in fastening and securing a wide range of components. The coiled structure of this fastener grants it flexibility and resilience, which in turn enables it to absorb shock, vibration, and lateral forces effectively. In general, this fastener is self-retaining, and will stay in place once installed;. This eliminates the need for additional retaining devices, simplifies the assembly process, and can reduce overall costs.
What are Coiled Spring Pins?
Also known as Spiral Pins or Coiled Pins, Coiled Spring Pins are headless & hollow pins with chamfered ends. They are usually made by shaping or wrapping a steel sheet into a slightly larger diameter than the standard size. This, in turn, results in a coiled design that allows them to distribute forces evenly along their entire lengths, mitigate stress concentration at specific points, and diminish the likelihood of component failure or fatigue when in use.
These pins are frequently used to join and fasten two or more components together. When the pins are inserted into pre-drilled holes, their spiral shape allows them to expand and exert radial pressure against the sides of the hole, which in turn creates a precise and secure connection. This is particularly crucial in applications subject to constant movement, such as machinery and automotive systems.
The versatility, ease of installation, and distinctive design distinguish Coiled Spring Pins from other pins in the same category. This is because, apart from their fastening functionalities, these pins can also serve as effective retaining features. They have the ability to secure various items, such as gears, pulleys, or bearings, onto shafts, effectively preventing axial movement or slippage. Hence, whether utilized in machinery, automotive systems, electronics, or countless other applications, Coiled Spring Pins excel in delivering dependable, long-lasting, and cost-effective solutions.
Who uses Coiled Spring Pins?
Due to their dependable nature and versatility, Coiled Spring Pins are extensively utilized across various industries and applications. Here are some of the industries where coiled spring pins are commonly used:
- Aerospace Industry: In the aerospace industry, Coiled Spring Pins play a vital role in applications that require reliable fastening and long-lasting durability. They are utilized in aircraft structures/frameworks, electronic components, circuit boards, landing gear, engines—where Coiled Spring Pins play a crucial role in guaranteeing the secure attachment of vital components like turbine blades, compressor parts, and fuel system components—and other crucial systems. These pins demonstrate excellent resistance to vibration, fatigue, and extreme temperature variations, making them highly suitable for demanding aerospace applications.
- Automotive Industry: Coiled Spring Pins are an integral part of the automotive industry. These pins are used in critical components such as brake systems, engine assemblies, transmissions, suspension systems, etc. Their exceptional capability to withstand high forces, resist loosening due to vibrations, and deliver dependable connections makes them highly suitable for the rigorous demands of automotive environments.
- Electronics and Electrical Industries: Coiled Spring Pins hold significant importance within the electronics and electrical industries. They are essential for securing connectors, circuit boards, switches, and a range of electronic components. These pins ensure dependable electrical connections, protect against damage caused by excessive movement or shock, and withstand the thermal demands typically associated with electronic devices.
- Defense and Military: Coiled Spring Pins are used in defense and military applications because of their exceptional reliability and durability. These pins are deployed in crucial systems such as military vehicles, weapons, and communications equipment. Their capability to withstand extreme conditions and ensure secure connections in demanding environments is vital for successful military operations.
Other industries that make use of Coiled Spring Pins include: the Medical Industry, where this pins are used to provide secure connections to surgical instruments, orthopedic implants, dental equipment, and diagnostic tools; the Consumer Goods Industry, where these fasteners are used in furniture, locks, hinges, power tools, toys, and other items that require secure and durable fastening; and the Machinery and Manufacturing Industries, where these pins provide secure fastening solutions for components such as gears, pulleys, shafts, and bearings.
What standards, materials and sizes are available?
Coiled Spring Pins are readily available off the shelf in Steel, with a Thermal Black finish, and in series 420 Stainless Steel. Standard stock sizes for the head diameter are Inch from 1/16 to 3/8, and length from 1/4 to 3.
Commercial Standards include:
- Inch: ASME B18.8.2, ASME B18.8.3M
- Metric: ISO8748, ISO8750, ISO8751
Mil-Spec standards include:
- MS39086, MS51923, MS51987, NAS1407, NAS561
Are there other factors to consider?
YES!! Installing Coiled Spring Pins requires a few essential tools to ensure proper placement and secure attachment. Below are a few tools that you might need in order to properly install them on a desired application.
- Hammer/Mallet: To safely and accurately drive the Coiled Spring Pin into position, without causing distortion or deformation, it is necessary to use a hammer or a mallet, and to gently strike the coiled spring pin into position.
- Pin Punch Tool: A pin punch tool could be used to drive the Coiled Spring Pin into a pre-drilled/tapped hole. This tool guarantees precise alignment and prevents any potential damage to the pin during the installation process.
Coiled Spring Pins at MF Supply
We currently offer:
- A full range of commercial parts, including parts that are ROHS compliant.
- Inch Coiled Spring Pins are now available for online purchase at our website!
- Please send a Request for Quote for your Mil-Spec and Metric series needs.
- Brand names and generic equivalents.
- Custom made parts per print.
For more detailed information on Coiled Spring Pins or other products, visit us at our website or Request a Quote today, and our MF Supply team of sourcing experts can help you find what you need. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply
- Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online. We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
- Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers.
- Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
- Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts, offer competitive pricing and specialize in finding hard to find parts and reducing long deliveries.
- One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.
Over 1.5K Dowel Pins, Cotter Pins, Spring Pins, and more Now in Stock!
Posted: July 7, 2023 Filed under: Coiled Spring Pin, Cotter Pin, dowel pin, Fasteners, Hair Pin Clip, Hitch Pin Clip, Inch, Metric, Metric Dowel Pins, Pins, PRECISION DOWEL PIN, Slotted Spring Pin | Tags: Coiled Spring Pins, Cotter Pins, Dowel Pin, Fasteners, Functional Equivalent Pins, Hair Pin Clips, Hardware, Hitch Pin Clips, Mechanical Fasteners, Metal, Pins for manufacturers, Precision Dowel Pin, Slotted Spring Pins, Spring Pins Leave a comment
Are you looking for Precision Dowel Pins, Cotter Pins, Spring Pins or Hair/Hitch Pin Clips?
If you are in need of any specific type of pins or clips for your next big project, you have arrived at the right place!
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB woman owned business, and a trusted supplier of Functional Equivalent Pins & Clips to OEMs, Manufacturers, Industry, and Government. We offer a wide selection of over 1,500 inch, metric & Mil-Spec Pins, in Alloy Steel, Steel, and Stainless Steel materials, that are perfect for a myriad of applications. You’ll find in stock Pins in many sizes including major brands and equivalents to Blue Devil, Pic Design, WM Berg, Misumi and Unicorp; so you can choose the ones that best suit your needs.
Who uses Pins & Clips?
Pins & clips are commonly used on many industries, such as automotive, aerospace, electronic, machinery, tooling, agriculture, construction and many more where reliable and convenient fastening is a must. Continue reading to learn more about the characteristics of each pin or clip currently on our website, and how they could be of use on your next project.
Coiled Spring Pins: Coiled Spring Pins, also known as Spiral Pins or Coiled Pins, are headless, hollow pins with chamfered ends, made by shaping or wrapping a steel sheet into a slightly larger diameter than the standard size. Unlike the slotted pins variety, these pins are distinguished by their multiple walls.
Uses: These pins are frequently used to join and fasten two or more components together. When the pins are inserted into pre-drilled holes, their spiral shape allows them to expand and exert radial pressure against the sides of the hole. This creates a secure and snug fit/connection. Apart from their fastening functionalities, Coiled Spring Pins can also serve as effective retaining features. They have the ability to secure various items, such as gears, pulleys, or bearings, onto shafts, effectively preventing axial movement or slippage. Moreover, these pins can be utilized to accurately position and retain other components, ensuring precise alignment and preventing undesired movement.
Cotter Pins: Cotter Pins, also known as Split Pins, are double bodied pins formed from half-round wire, a loop at one end of which provides a head. The finished part has one end of the wire extending beyond the other end, with a chiseled point.
Uses: These pins are used to anchor various assemblies by inserting them into a drilled hole in the shaft or pin and spreading the points to hold the assembly in position. When used with castle or slotted nuts, it becomes a safety locking device. An important benefit offered by Cotter Pins is their ease of removal, which enables swift disassembly or maintenance tasks. When the need arises to dismantle/disassemble components, cotter pins can be readily taken out by straightening or bending back the split end to its original position. This feature simplifies repair or maintenance operations.
Precision Dowel Pins: These pins are solid headless straight pins with a closely controlled diameter. Applications include a wide variety of uses, such as plug gage, hinge, or shaft. They are typically cylindrical in shape and made from materials such as hardened steel, stainless steel, or aluminum.
Uses: Precision Dowel Pins are widely utilized to achieve precise alignment and positioning of components. These pins undergo meticulous machining processes and are manufactured with strict tolerances to guarantee a snug and accurate fit. Precise tolerances of Dowel Pins make them excellent for achieving proper alignment of parts in high-speed assemblies, or as roller bearings in bus/truck wheel housings. By inserting them into corresponding holes in two or more parts, the dowel pins guarantee proper alignment and positioning of the parts in relation to one another. These dowel pins serve as reference points or datums, ensuring accuracy and precision throughout the assembly process.
Slotted Spring Pins: Sometimes referred to as Roll Pins, Expansion Pins, C-Pins or Tension Pins, Slotted Spring Pins are hollow, headless pins, slit longitudinally, having controlled lengths with chamfered ends, formed to a diameter somewhat greater than that of the hole into which they are to be assembled. These pins are cylindrical in shape and are able to compress and expand upon insertion into a hole. Additionally, they are commonly crafted from materials such as carbon steel or stainless steel.
Uses: Slotted spring pins are used for the purpose of securing and fastening components together. The slots present in the pin allow for compression during insertion and radial expansion, which generates outward pressure against the walls of the pre-drilled hole. This inherent self-retaining characteristic guarantees the pin’s retention and delivers a secure method of fastening. Spring pins are economical because they can simplify product design by replacing more expensive fasteners such as taper pins, set screws and straight pins. Stainless steel Spring Pins are commonly used in electronics and food industries.
Hair/Hitch Pin Clips: Hitch Pin Clips, also known as Hair Pin Clips, Bridge Pins or R-Clips, are double-bodied pins formed from round wires. These pins are formed in a way where one end is bent approximately 180° so that the two resulting sides meet or come close to meeting. The final pins have one side that remains straight, while the opposite side has one or more turns permanently formed into it.
Uses: Hair/Hitch Pin Clips are designed to serve as a mating part to several other pins. They provide a hassle-free way to attach and detach components without the need for additional tools or complicated fastening mechanisms. Hitch Pin Clips also act as a safety feature, ensuring that the connected components remain intact during operation. When the need arises to remove or replace a pin, Hitch Pin Clips present a simple and time-saving solution. By simply compressing the curved end and sliding it out of the hole, the clip can be easily removed. Hence, this allows for quick disassembly, maintenance, or component replacement without the requirement of specialized tools or lengthy procedures.
In-Stock Pins & Clips at MF Supply
We currently have in stock over 1,500 Pins & Clips in inch, metric & Mil-Spec sizes. The most common material options available are: alloy steel with bright or ebony black oxide finishes; steel with thermal black, mechanical zinc, zinc, and zinc phosphate finishes; and passivated stainless steel—including series A2, T321, 18-8, 300, 303, 316, 400 416, & 420.
Browse through the links provided below to find the Pins or Clips that you need, and that are currently available on our website.
- Inch Coiled Spring Pins: Stock sizes include 1/16 to 3/8 in Steel with a Thermal Black finish, and in 420 Stainless Steel.
- Inch Cotter Pins: Stock sizes include 1/16 to 1/2 in Steel with a Chisel Point and Zinc Plating, as per standard ASME B18.8.1 specifications.
- Mil-Spec MS9245 Cotter Pins: Stock sizes include 1/32 through 5/32 in T321 Stainless Steel.
- Inch Precision Dowel Pins: Interference / Press Fit & Slip Fit Dowel Pins in 300 Series Stainless Steel; Dowel Pins in 316 Series Stainless Steel; and Dowel Pins in Alloy Steel with Bright or Ebony Black Oxide finishes.
- Metric Precision Dowel Pins: Stock sizes include M1 through M10 diameters in 18-8, 300, 303, A2 Series Stainless Steel; and M2 through M10 diameters in 416 Stainless Steel.
- Mil-Spec Precision Dowel Pins: MS16555-1 through MS16555-145, MS16555-301 through MS16555-444 & MS16555-601 through MS16555-744, including between-spec sizes; and Mil-P-21143 Series in 303 Stainless Steel.
- Inch Slotted Spring Pins: Stock sizes include 1/16 to 1/2 in Steel wth a Thermal Black or Mechanical Zinc Finish, 420 Stainless Steel, and Stainless Steel materials—as per standard ASME B18.8.2 specifications.
- Metric Slotted Spring Pins: Stock sizes include M2 to M8 in Steel with a Thermal Black Finish, as per standard ISO 8752 specifications.
- Mil-Spec MS16562 Slotted Spring Pins: Stock sizes include 1/16 through 1/2 in Steel Zinc Phosphate.
- Inch Hair Pins / Hitch Pin Clips: Stock sizes include .028 to .243 in Steel Zinc.
Our Pins & Clips are competitively priced. Don’t wait! Visit our website today to place an order, or Request a Quote and we will follow up with you.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Can’t find what you are looking for on the list? Reach out to us today, and our MF Supply team of sourcing experts will help find what you need. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!
Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.
Six Reasons To Buy From MF Supply
- Full eCommerce Enabled Website With Technical Manual Available 24/7 – Visit our website and Create a New Account, track online orders, browse our product catalog, check technical specs, subscribe to our blog, or buy online. We are adding items and improving functionality daily!
- Same Day Shipping From The USA – Our hardware products are in stock and ship to you directly from our USA based distribution centers.
- Functional Equivalents To Expensive Brand Names- We stock and source alternatives to brand name fasteners, reducing long lead times and saving you money.
- Creatively Solve Problems – We are sourcing experts, offer competitive pricing and specialize in finding hard to find parts and reducing long deliveries.
- One-Stop Shopping On Certified Hardware – We stock and source a full line of fasteners including Mil-Spec, DFARS compliant and other industrial products.
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business – To meet your diversity & set-aside needs.
MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government. We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies. For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services. Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.