Ultimate Guide: Helical Inserts, aka HELICOIL, Cross Reference Guide!
Posted: June 25, 2024 Filed under: Cross Reference Charts, Helical, Helical Threaded Inserts, helical wire inserts, Wire Threaded Inserts | Tags: Cross Reference Charts, heli-coil, Helical Inserts, Helical Inserts Cross Reference Guide, Helical Threaded Inserts, helical wire inserts, helicoil, manufacturing, Precision Engineering, Precision Manufacturers, threaded inserts, Wire inserts, Wire Threaded Inserts Leave a comment
If you’ve done your homework, you probably already know that the industrial marketplace is home to a myriad of trademarked – OEM branded expensive fasteners and components. Many branded parts have generic alternatives. Similar to how brand-name products like Kleenex® can be found generically as facial tissues, many brand-name fasteners are also available as “generics,” “crosses,” “alternatives,” or “functional equivalents.”
Functional Equivalent Fastener? What is it?
In the fastener industry, a functional equivalent fastener is a part that replicates the brand-name product in form, fit, and function, including material and plating specifications, but is produced by a different manufacturer. This allows you to get the same performance and quality, often at a lower cost and with shorter lead times.
Which OEM Brands Have Functional Equivalent Fasteners?
A significant number of OEM brands out there have generic functional equivalents. Here is a shortlist of brands that have generic alternatives:
3 Star Rivets USA, ABBATRON®, ALCOA, AMATOM®, APEX®, ARCONIC®, ATLAS®, AVDEL®, AVK®, B. F. GOODRICH, BOLLHOFF, BUCKEYE, CAPTIVE, CELUS®, CHERRY®, CONCORD, FASTENAL, GESIPA®, GLOBE ELECTRONICS, GRIPCO®, H. H. SMITH, HELICOIL®, HOWMET, HUCK, INDUX, INTERFAST, KATO®, KEENSERT®, KEYSTONE, LOCTITE®, LYN-TRON, MACLEAN ESNA®, MARSON®, MCMASTER-CARR, MISUMI, MSC INDUSTRIAL, PEM®, PIC DESIGN®, POP®, POWERS®, QUICKSCREWS, RAF, RECOIL®, RED HEAD®, ROTOR CLIP®, SHEREX, SIMPSON, SOUTHCO®, SPS TECHNOLOGIES, TINNERMAN®, U. S. ANCHOR, UNICORP, VIP, W. M. BERG, W. W. GRAINGER, WALDES TRUARC®.
Do Helical Inserts Have Functional Equivalents?
One example of an OEM hardware brand is the trademarked name Helicoil®. Although the name Helicoil® is often used to refer to helical inserts (also known as helical wire, wire inserts or wire threaded inserts)—similar to how Band-Aid® is used to describe adhesive bandages, Helicoil® is the registered trademark of Stanley Engineered Fastening (recently acquired by Bollhoff).
The same helical inserts manufactured under the Helicoil® brand name are also available from alternative manufacturers under brand names such as CHRISLYNN, Recoil®, and KATO®, E-Z Lok and Powercoil. These inserts can also be identified by their Mil-Spec numbers, which include: MS122076 through MS122275, NAS1130, MS124651 through MS124850, MS21208, MS21209, MS122076, MS33537, MA3279, MA3329, and NA0276 series. Note: All of these offerings are the tanged version of helical inserts.
Here at MF Supply, we provide a comprehensive cross-reference guide to help you find the perfect alternative to meet your needs. Check out our most popular helical inserts cross-reference charts below to see if there is a functional equivalent to your OEM branded product! They come in imperial, mil-spec and metric sizes and materials.
Helical Inserts Equivalents Cross-Reference Charts: Find OEM Brands and Functional Equivalents
Helical Insert Inch & Mil-Spec Cross Reference Charts
Helical inserts, in imperial/inch & mil-spec sizes, are available as free running coarse thread (UNC), self-locking coarse thread (UNC), free running fine thread (UNF), and self-locking fine thread (UNF) in stainless steel material with Tang.
Mil-Spec series include: MS122076 through MS122275, NAS1130, MS124651 through MS124850, MS21208, MS21209, MS122076, MS33537, and NA0276 series.
Helical Insert Metric Cross Reference Charts
Helical inserts, in metric sizes, are available as free running coarse thread, self-locking coarse thread, free running fine thread, and self-locking fine thread in stainless steel material with Tang.
series include: MA3279, and MA3329.
Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of helical inserts, is a smart practice that manufacturers’ often use to save money and shorten lead times!
Helical Inserts at MF Supply
MF Supply is a leading supplier of Helical Inserts including major brands and equivalents. We stock a huge inventory including free running coarse thread (UNC), self-locking coarse thread (UNC), free running fine thread (UNF), and self-locking fine thread (UNF) helicoil inserts in imperial/inch, mil-spec and metric sizes, and in stainless steel with tang. Our Mil-Spec products are DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.
Product Lines Include:
Manufacturers working with us can expect timely deliveries, competitive pricing, and access to expert guidance to help optimize their fastener choices. Explore our product catalog by visiting our website at www.mfsupply.com, reaching out to us at sales@mfsupply.com, or requesting a quote.. Our MF Supply team of sourcing experts is here to 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.
Your Purchasing Department’s Secret Weapon!
Here are 5 reasons to buy from MF Supply
- We Source and Deliver What Others Can’t, Faster Than You Imagined – With speedy solutions for elusive parts and lengthy delivery times – We’ve got you covered with both custom-made specials (send us your prints!) and hard-to-source options, quickly and at a fair price.
- Cost-Effective Functional Equivalents to OEM Brand Fasteners-Why Pay More? – Reduce lead times and costs with the same quality and same performance. Try us for alternatives to brands like McMaster-Carr, MSC, Misumi, PEM, and RAF and experience unmatched savings! Same form, fit and function for less.
- Huge Selection of Certified and Commercial Hardware with Same-day Shipping Available for Countless Items – We source and stock standards, specials, commercial, Mil-Spec & OEM brands in inch and metric sizes. Standards include AN, NAS, MS, IFI, ASTM, ASME, DIN, ISO, JIS. We are sourcing experts for inserts, certified Mil-Spec parts and anything in stainless steel. Many parts are available with manufacturers’ certifications, including DFAR, ROHS and CoC. Trust us to ship on-time from our national distribution centers.
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- WBE/WOSB Certified Woman-Owned Small Business – As a certified Woman-Owned Small Business, we support your diversity goals. Trust us to meet your fastener and sourcing needs with expertise and efficiency [Cage Code 58QG4].
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.