Check out MF Supply’s 2023 Standoff & Spacer Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: April 18, 2023 Filed under: Cross Reference Charts, Female-Female, Hex Spacers, Hex Standoffs, Male-Female, Male-Male, Round Spacers, Round Standoffs, Spacers, Standoffs, Standoffs and Spacers | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentStandoffs & Spacers Equivalent Cross Reference: Find OEM brands & Functional Equivalents
Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of Electronic Hardware like Standoffs and Spacers, is a practice many manufacturer’s use to save money and shorten lead times.
Checkout our four most popular Standoff & Spacer cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your OEM fastener brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Round Spacers

Round shaped Spacers. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
Hex Standoffs

Hex shaped Female and Male-Female Standoffs. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
Round Standoffs

Round shaped Female and Male-Female Standoffs. Available in Aluminum, Brass, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.
MF Supply is a leading supplier of Standoffs and Spacers, including major brands and equivalents to Amatom, Captive, Concord, Globe, HH Smith, Grainger, Keystone, Lyn-tron, McMaster-Carr, MSC, Microplastics, PEM, RAF, Unicorp and more in imperial, metric and mil-spec sizes and materials.
We stock a huge inventory including Inch & Metric Sizes, Round and Hex styles, Female & Male-Female options and a variety of sizes, materials and platings. We stock commercial imported and domestically made and DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.
Standoffs and Spacers sometimes show up under their Mil-spec numbers, which can be crossed to commercial equivalents. Some common Mil-spec series include NAS42, NAS43, NAS61, NAS1056, NAS1057, NAS1829, NAS1830, NAS1831.
If you cant find the part number you need feel free to request a quote and our sourcing experts can help you out!
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.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
Check out MF Supply’s 2023 Keensert® Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: February 21, 2023 Filed under: Alloy Keenserts, Inch and Mil-Spec Keensert, keensert, Metric Keensert, Stainless Steel Keenserts | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentKeensert® Equivalent Cross Reference: Find OEM brands, Mil-spec & Functional Equivalents
Although the name Keensert® is often used to describe what is generically called a Key-locking insert (like Band-Aid® or Kleenex®), Keensert® is the registered trademark of Huck Patents (its close cousin, the Keysert® is a registered trademark of Alcoa Fastening Systems). Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of key-locking inserts, is a practice many manufacturer’s use to save money and shorten lead times.
Checkout our three most popular Keylocking Insert cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your Keensert® OEM brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Inch & Mil-Spec Keensert®

Miniature, Thinwall & Lightweight, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty, Keylocking Inserts in Stainless Steel, A286, 4140 Alloy. Includes MS51830, MS51831, MS51832, KN, KNC, KNL & KNCL Series.
MF Supply is a leading supplier of key-locking inserts including major brands and equivalents to Acme, Alcoa, Camloc, Clarendon, Fairchild, Kaynar, Microdot and Tridair Keenserts® in imperial, metric and mil-spec sizes and materials.
We stock a huge inventory including Miniature, Thinwall, Lightweight, Heavy Duty, Extra Heavy Duty, Locking, Non-Locking, Solid and Floating style Keenserts®. Our products are DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.
If you cant find the part number you need feel free to request a quote and our sourcing experts can help you out!
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.
To learn more about our products, visit our blog, or email us at sales@mfsupply.com
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.
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.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
Ultimate Guide for Using Functional Equivalents to OEM Fastener Brands in 2023
Posted: February 16, 2023 Filed under: Functional Equivalent, Sourcing, Uncategorized | Tags: Functional Equivalents, Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, Sourcing Leave a commentAt MF Supply, we spend a lot of time sourcing hard to find, back ordered, expensive, or out-of-stock OEM hardware brands. We do this in order to save money and to reduce long lead times for our customers, without sacrificing quality.
Just like in the pharmaceutical world, where there are brand names that everyone knows, there are also generic alternatives that are functional equivalents. This is true for the hardware industry too!
6 Things to Know when Comparing Fastener Brands to Generic Alternatives
We’ve discussed how the trademarked brand Keensert® is often available as a Mil-Spec or generic branded key-locking insert. We also reviewed how national brands of precision shoulder screws, such as Amatom, Concord, RAF and others are also offered by McMaster-Carr (tight tolerance series), MSC, Grainger and generically.
But how exactly do you determine which categories of fasteners cross to generic alternatives? This guide offers creative solutions including when to cross, and how to save money and reduce long lead times by using brand alternatives.
1. What is a functional equivalent when it comes to fasteners and precision components?
You can find hundreds of registered trademark-branded fasteners and components in the industrial marketplace. Much like brand-name pharmaceuticals such as Tylenol and Advil are available generically (as acetaminophen and ibuprofen), some brand name fasteners are also available as “generics,” “crosses,” “alternatives” or “functional equivalents.”
In the world of fasteners, a functional equivalent fastener is a part that is the same as the brand-name product in form, fit and function, including material and plating specifications.
2. How can I determine if I must use the brand name or if I can cross to a generic part?
Before you shop, check the bill of materials to see if it specifically calls out a particular brand name along with the part number. If no specific manufacturer’s name is listed, then you can typically use a functional equivalent.
Use this handy 4 point checklist as your guide:
- Does your bill of materials specifically call for the OEM brand-name fastener or component?
- Can you live with the lead time or will having parts sooner improve delivery of the final product?
- Will your supplier provide a certificate of conformance?
- Will saving money help you be more competitive?
3. What categories of fasteners are available as generic or functional equivalents?
Popular categories include adhesives and sealants, anchors, bits and nutsetters, cage nuts, flex type lock nuts, handles, Keenserts, knurled thumb screws, nylon insert stop nuts, precision shoulder screws, retaining rings, rivets & blind threaded inserts, self-clinching, fasteners, spacers and standoffs, speed clips, spring nuts, weld nuts, weld studs, and woodworking screws.
4. What brands of fasteners should I consider crossing to their generic or functional equivalent?
A sample list 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®, GRIPCO®, GLOBE ELECTRONICS, H. H. SMITH, HUCK, INDUX, INTERFAST, KEYSTONE, LOCTITE®, LYN-TRON, MACLEANESNA®, MARSON®, MCMASTER-CARR, MISUMI, MSC INDUSTRIAL, PEM®, PIC DESIGN®, POP®, POWERS®, QUICKSCREWS, RAF, RED HEAD®, ROTOR CLIP®, SHEREX, SIMPSON, SOUTHCO®, SPS TECHNOLOGIES, TINNERMAN®, U. S. ANCHOR. VIP, W. M. BERG, W. W. GRAINGER, WALDES TRUARC®.
5. What are the advantages of using functional equivalents?
Brand names are great, and when they are in stock, available and required by your customer, then you can buy them with confidence in their quality. However, one surefire way to save money and shorten delivery time is to cross the OEM brand part on your bill of materials to a functional equivalent.
6. MF Supply Case Studies for Functional Equivalents
- Precision Shoulder Screw Functional Equivalents: In this case study, you can learn how one OEM branded precision shoulder screw has eight (yes 8!) functional equivalents.
- Keensert Functional Equivalents: In this case study, we highlight how we helped a defense supplier save 59% and cut delivery time from 28 weeks down to 5 weeks.
Brands and Functional Equivalents at MF Supply
Supplying a full range of fastener products and services, MF Supply is an authorized distributor of Amatom/Carey, Captive (Pem equivalent), Chrislynn Inserts, Concord, EZ-Lok, Lok-mor, Lyn-tron, Microplastics, Shear-loc, S&M Retaining Rings, and Unicorp, as well as a distribution partner for many others. We have an expertise in dowel pins, inserts and Keenserts and domestic and Mil-Spec products.
We provide functional equivalents to expensive brand name fasteners and help our customers save money while reducing long lead times. Check out our recent case study where a functional equivalent was substituted for an OEM brand, reducing costs by 37% and shaving lead time. This time and money savings gave the manufacturer an advantage over their competition, which helped them win the job.
For more detailed information about brands we commonly cross, visit our website. And if you don’t see it listed, as always, ask us. “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.
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.
Read More https://conta.cc/37Yp0F6
The Buyer’s Guide to Self-Clinching Fasteners You Must Have! Refreshed for 2023!
Posted: February 14, 2023 Filed under: Brand equivalents, Captive Self-Clinching, PEM Self-Clinching | Tags: Fasteners, Hardware, manufacturing, PEM, Self-Clinching Leave a commentMF Supply continues to expand our offering of products available for purchase online. We are thrilled to offer Self-clinching fasteners available from stock that can be purchased on our website or by email, phone or fax. We are an authorized distributor for Captive Fasteners, a US based manufacturer since 1974, with a factory right here in our NJ backyard!
What are Self-clinching fasteners?
Self-clinching fasteners are generally classified as part of the electronic hardware or precision engineered fastener family and are not governed by IFI, ANSI or ASME standards. A self-clinching fastener, also known as press-fit or clinch style captive fastener, is a part that when pressed into a drilled, punched or machined hole, provides an economical method of joining sheet metal panel applications and is well-suited for use in printed circuit boards.
Self-clinching fasteners are used in many industries; both commercial and aerospace.
Self-clinching Fasteners available at MF Supply
MF Supply offers the full catalog of Captive branded fasteners & PEM® equivalents in inch & metric sizes. We have the following parts available for purchase online, in stock and ready to ship from our national distribution centers:
- Self-Clinching Standoffs: Alt to PEM® Type BSO, BSOS,SO Captive CFBSOS, CFSO
- Self-Clinching Studs: Alt to PEM® Type FH, FHS, KFH Captive CH, CHS, CKFH
- Self-Clinching Nuts: Alt to PEM® Type S, CLS Captive Series C, CS in Inch & Metric
Additional Series available include, but are not limited to, floating, self-locking, blind-hole, flush, and broaching fasteners.
How do they work?
Self-clinching fasteners work by displacing the host material around the mounting hole, causing it to cold flow into a specially designed annular recess. Knurls, serrated rings or ribs on the fastener hold them firmly in place. Self-clinching fasteners become an integral permanent part of the panel or frame and eliminate problems associated with loose hardware. Installation requires access to both sides of the panel and self-clinching fasteners may be installed using any parallel acting squeezing force.
What are the advantages of Self-Clinching fasteners?
Self-clinching fasteners provide strong thread in very thin material & offer high push out and torque out resistance. They take less space and require fewer assembly operations than caged or anchor nuts. They can be installed during fabrication or during final assembly and work well in applications when loose hardware wouldn’t be accessible.
Some of the key advantages include:
- No special hole preparation, such as chamfering and deburring is required.
- Low installed costs, fewer parts to handle, fewer assembly steps and less assembly time.
- No retapping necessary after application.
What are the differences between branded fasteners like PEM & Captive and generic Self-clinching fasteners?
Self-clinching hardware is frequently referred to by the OEM brand name PEM®. Captive Fastener is a USA based manufacturer and offers functional equivalents to PEM® branded self-clinching fasteners. In addition to PEM® & Captive, there are a variety of manufacturers of self-clinching fasteners available in the marketplace including the major national catalog brands. Functional alternatives will be equivalent in form fit and function and offer similar performance.
To see if using alternative brands or functional equivalents will work for your business, refer to our handy guide.
We have also included a cross reference lookup table for PEM® product types vs. Captive product series below.
Also, watch our video below!
What information for I need for ordering?
The easiest way to order is by manufacturer part number. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to specify fastener type & style, thread diameter & pitch, fastener length, material and plating. For example: a 10-32 X 3/8 Flush Head Self-Clinching Stud Steel Zinc plated can also be ordered as a PEM® FH-032-6, (or a PEM® FH-032-6-ZI as sometimes PEM® calls out the plating) or a Captive CH1032-6. This part is also offered by a national catalog brand under part number 93580A166.
Additional Series available include, but are not limited to, floating, self-locking, blind-hole, flush, and broaching fasteners.
We Invite You To Request a Quote, Download a Guide or a Line Card Today!
- Full ecommerce enabled website with technical manual available 24/7
- Same day drop ship from factory for thousands of items.
- Functional Equivalents to expensive brand name fasteners save money and reduce long lead times.
- Creatively solve problems including hard to find parts and long lead times
- WBE/WOSB Woman Owned Certified Small Business.
Seeking parts not listed for purchase on our website? We’ve got you covered! Submit your RFQ for your PEM®, Captive® or equivalent Self-Clinching parts, and our team of experts can help source your needs!
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.
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.
Read More https://conta.cc/3MFOMfm
MF Supply Launches New Product Filter! (Refreshed for 2023)
Posted: February 7, 2023 Filed under: Domestic Fasteners, Electronic Hardware, Filter Tool, Search Tool, Supply chain - manufacturing, Women in Manufacturing | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, supply chain Leave a commentWe are excited to announce our new product search and filter feature on our website!
Our new product filter lets you refine product searches by multiple attributes, including size, material, category and more. This makes it easier to navigate and search for products the way you want to. Hence, you can find the parts you need faster and more efficiently.
Simply search by your keyword…
Product Filters will appear on the left panel of our website in the following cases:
1) From the Search Navigation Bar at the top left of our home page, key in the product type, description or attributes you are seeking. i.e. inserts, then the filter appears.
And filter through your specific needs…
2) From the pages that list products available for purchase or RFQ, i.e., where the filter automatically appears.
Once the filter appears, search refinement is available based on multiple attributes including:
- Product Type & Subtype
- Size – Diameter x thread
- Length
- Head styles and drives
- Inch or Metric
- Outer Diameter x Thread
- Material
- Finish
- Standard, including OEM brand name
- More!
As always if you can’t find your specific part or product, feel free to send us a Request For Quote and our team of sourcing experts will follow up for you!
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.
To learn more about our products, visit our blog, or email us at sales@mfsupply.com
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.
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.
Read More: https://conta.cc/3Ae2RgN
MF Supply Launches New Product Filter!
Posted: November 16, 2022 Filed under: Domestic Fasteners, Electronic Hardware, Filter Tool, Search Tool, Supply chain - manufacturing, Women in Manufacturing | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, supply chain Leave a commentWe are excited to announce our new search and filter feature in our website! Find the parts you need faster and more efficiently.
Read More: https://conta.cc/3Ae2RgN
Check out MF Supply’s Handy Keensert® Cross Reference Tables!
Posted: November 10, 2022 Filed under: Alloy Keenserts, Inch and Mil-Spec Keensert, keensert, Metric Keensert, Stainless Steel Keenserts | Tags: Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing Leave a commentCheckout our three most popular Keylocking Insert cross reference charts to see if there is a Functional Equivalent to your Keensert® OEM brand, and start saving money and reducing lead times immediately.
Read More https://conta.cc/3r0B1Q3 |
The Buyer’s Guide to Self-Clinching Fasteners You Must Have!
Posted: June 16, 2022 Filed under: Brand equivalents, Captive Self-Clinching, PEM Self-Clinching | Tags: Fasteners, Hardware, manufacturing, PEM, Self-Clinching Leave a commentThrough our extensive assortment of OEM brand names and equivalents, we offer our customers quality imported and domestic self-clinching options
Read More https://conta.cc/3MFOMfm
Your Ultimate Functional Equivalent Cheat Sheet
Posted: June 9, 2022 Filed under: Functional Equivalent, Sourcing, Uncategorized | Tags: Functional Equivalents, Hardware, Keenserts, manufacturing, Sourcing Leave a commentAt MF Supply, we spend a lot of time sourcing hard to find, back ordered, expensive, or out-of-stock OEM hardware brands. We do this in order to save money and to reduce long lead times for our customers, without sacrificing quality.
Read More https://conta.cc/37Yp0F6
MF SUPPLY EXPANDS TO NEW MARKETS THANKS TO NJMEP SUPPORT
Posted: November 23, 2021 Filed under: NJMEP, Supply chain - manufacturing | Tags: Hardware, manufacturing, njmep, supply chain Leave a comment
MF Supply relied heavily on the accurate and timely information NJMEP provided once the pandemic began.
“Our business has grown and added headcount by pivoting directions. A lot of that happened, frankly, because of the information we received from NJMEP,” Robin Lieberman, President, MF Supply explained.