​PEM® R’ANGLE® fasteners for thin metal assemblies 06 August 2015

PennEngineering® has introduced the patented PEM® R’ANGLE® fastener for thin metal assemblies and printed circuit boards, which creates strong right angle attachment points to enable tighter design control, reduced hardware counts, and associated production economies.

This family of fasteners consists of self-clinching products for permanent installation into metal sheets and ReelFast® SMT surface mount versions for permanent installation onto printed circuit boards.

R’ANGLE® clinch fasteners for metal can serve as ideal replacements for conventional bent edge tabs, bent centre tabs, bent flanges, angle brackets, or tack welds. R’ANGLE surface mount fasteners for printed circuit boards eliminate the usual requirements for angle brackets or threaded right angle blocks.

For metal assemblies Type RAA™ aluminium clinch fasteners install in aluminium sheets as thin as 0.04 inches/1mm and accept thread forming screws in sizes #4-40, #6-32, #8-32, and M3 and M4. Type RAS™ steel threaded fasteners install in aluminium or steel sheets as thin as 0.04 inches/1mm and are available in thread sizes #4-40, #6-32, #8-32, and M3 and M4. A single mating screw completes the component attachment process. The holding power of the fastener will be unaffected by any tightening or loosening of the screw.

ReelFast SMT fasteners are designed to mount board to chassis, chassis to board, or component to board. They install at the edge or interior of boards (as thin as 0.04 inches/1mm) in the same manner and at the same time as other surface mount components prior to the automated reflow solder process. Thread sizes for mating screws range from #2-56 through #8-32 and M2 through M4.

Detailed specifications, CAD models, installation animations, and performance data (Bulletin RA) for these RoHS compliant fasteners can be accessed on PennEngineering®’s website.

Claire Aldridge Deputy Editor t: +44 (0) 1727 743 889

Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.

Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.