Spring fasteners serve many different purposes. The pins are inserted into a hole within a piece of machinery and used to prevent shaft rotation, act as a spacing device, work as a dowel, stop a moving handle or any other rotating component and for several other applications. These fasteners are available in a variety of different sizes, widths and styles.

It is important to understand spring pin fasteners basics so you can be sure to choose the exact product you need for you company's equipment. When you are seeking out spring pin manufacturers, keep the following questions in mind:

1. What type of spring pins do you need? You may require a standard pin, compound pin, coiled pin or other style depending on the what it will be used for;.

2. Will an electrical pin best suit your needs?

3. Does the size of your machinery require a more heavy duty type of industrial spring pin?

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Find out more about the spring loaded fastener

Sometimes spring pins are used to hold other components at a particular angle. They may also be utilized as a cotter pin or as part of a metal-based hinge. For every piece of equipment, making sure you have the right tool for the job is essential. Read about the many applications for spring loaded pins and find out the various duties they may serve for your business' equipment.

I recommend: Learn more about spring loaded fasteners at Driv-Lok and CONNEX, or the coiled spring pin at Spirol International.

Check out electrical spring pins

In some instances, the power of spring loaded electrical contacts may be required for certain types of machines. A flat section of the pin, known as the pad connector, provides an electrical contact to give extra power to the spring pin. Any supplier of an electric spring pin fastener will be able to help you determine exactly which type of electrical fastener will work best for your needs.

I recommend: Read more about it at IP or Synergetix.

Work with industrial spring pin fasteners

Larger machinery may require a more heavy duty product. An industrial spring fastener can get the job done in any equipment you may have at your workplace. Turn to manufacturers or suppliers of this type of pin to get the job done right.

I recommend: See a brief description of the metric industrial slotted spring pin at Industrial Distribution Magazine's website. Find out where to find industrial spring pin suppliers at Zycon Global Services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Work with spring pin suppliers that carry a large variety of fasteners in stock at all times so you will be able to get everything you need from one source.
• •  Have more questions about spring pin fasteners basics? The companies that manufacture them are always available to answer your inquiries and help out with special requests.
• •  Locate a distributor of spring pins that offers a wholesale B2B price for bulk orders to save your company money.

Spring fasteners are useful as well as economic. Generally speaking, they require little preparation to use beyond drilling a hole for you to insert them in. Their use spans many applications. Electrical spring pins can be for use in a patch board circuit as an electrical connector, while industrial spring pin fasteners can be for use in casting as well as stamping and more.

There are different kinds of spring pins for you to consider for your business. This guide will cover three major kinds of spring pins: the coiled spring pin, the slotted spring pin and the spring loaded fastener. Many of the spring pin manufacturers are also spring pin distributors. Information about these companies as well as some spring pin suppliers will also be in this guide.

1. Rely on the coiled spring pin for industrial as well as electrical applications.

2. Pick slotted spring pins for their ability to withstand shock and vibration.

3. Choose spring loaded fasteners for quick removal and installation.

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Depend on coiled spring pins for their versatility and ease of application

Coiled spring pins are economic to create and use thanks to their simplicity. They come in light, standard (or medium) and heavy duty, and you can use them to align, locate as well as join various components.

I recommend: Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the coiled spring pin fastener; its very simplicity makes it versatile as well as economic to use. Two manufacturers of coiled spring pins are Spirol International and Vogelsang.

Use slotted spring pins for security

Thanks to their ability to expand, slotted springs will hold your work together. Due to the fact that slotted spring pins expand after you insert them into their hole, they are able to resist any vibration or shock that might dislodge spring pins of other designs.

I recommend: One manufacturer of the slotted spring pins is G.L. Huyett. One distributor/supplier that has slotted spring pins and more is Grainger.

Use spring loaded pins when space is at a premium

Spring loaded springs work well when the space is tight, and they release quickly with a simple pull. Spring loaded pins are handy in many applications: from automotive, industrial and telecommunications, just to name a few.

I recommend: Find spring loaded electrical contacts manufactured by Norstan. Vlier and Carr Lane manufacture other spring loaded pins. These spring loaded pins have springs that can be made of steel, Polyurethane and other materials.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Spring pins are handy and can save your company money thanks to their cost and ease of use. Bulk pricing is available.

Industrial spring pin fasteners are used in many different ways in today's industrial plants. Because there are so many types of spring loaded fasteners and areas to use spring pins, working with them can be a constant learning experience. Educate your employees, or take a refresher course yourself, in proper spring pins usage.

Get up-to-date spring pins education and training so you know you're using them properly and effectively. Find training courses, online downloads or manuals from manufacturers to use as references and teaching aids for your employees. Spring fastener training may even help you improve productivity and overall plant efficiency. Start by:

1. Contacting the current spring pin suppliers you use. Ask them for any training tools, pamphlets or information you can share with your employees.

2. Joining a manufacturing organization to connect with others who have spring pin information.

3. Looking for online spring pin courses, training sessions or workshops.

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Get information from a current or potential industrial spring pins manufacturer

If you're already using spring fasteners, ask the supplier for information, or go directly to the manufacturer for training applications. They'll have a wide variety of pertinent information for you both about the industry and use of their specific products. For companies looking to use spring pins, most manufacturers would be happy to provide training materials to acquaint you with their product.

I recommend: Driv-Lok manufactures many engineered fastening solutions including spring pins, and they also provide an overview of spring pins and how to properly use them. Another fastener manufacturer, Spirol, provides a thorough resource section about the spring pin fastener.

Join a manufacturing group and find educational materials about the spring loaded fastener

Networking with your manufacturing peers is an educational tool that shouldn't be overlooked. Create some solid and reciprocal working relationships with other companies and find valuable spring pin training materials at the same time.

I recommend: Join the National Association of Manufacturers or the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. Both have a wide base of members representing all facets of the manufacturing industry and can link you with several spring pin training resources.

Find spring pin fasteners education and training online

Spring pin fastener training is available through several manufacturing education businesses and training organizations. Before selecting a course, make sure it will cover the specific spring pins you use. A lot of spring pin training is included along with an overall fastener course, so finding a class specifically designed for spring pin training may be difficult.

I recommend: The Fastener Training Institute provides beginning and advanced training on fasteners, including spring pins. They offer different training courses and seminars throughout the year. ToolingU offers 10 different classes in their fastener department and touches on spring pin fasteners in several of their courses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While joining a national manufacturing organization can be very beneficial, there are many state associations that may help you connect with more local organizations and find spring pin information more quickly.

The spring pin is widely used in industrial manufacturing. Typically, it's used as a basic pin to hold two objects together securely, but it can also be used as a dowel or stop pin. The spring pin is simple: it's designed to fit snugly in place by creating a frictional grip, but the variety of spring pins available can make it a little difficult to choose the correct pin.

Learning a few basic and advanced spring pin terms can help you find the right pin for the job. Find out how a coiled pin and toothed pin work, and learn how to distinguish how strong a pin is by its yield strength rating.

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Spring pin

A spring pin is a cylindrical pin with a hollow interior and slot along the side which allows it to compress to fit into a hole that is smaller than the diameter of the pin. The spring pin fits tightly to create a secure way of holding objects in place.

I recommend: ToolingU offers a definition of the spring pin and how it works.

Yield strength

The yield strength is a measurement of a material's capabilities to handle a load. The strength number is the maximum load amount an object, like a spring pin, can take before it deforms or breaks.

I recommend: The definition of yield strength is available at the Pivot Pins glossary of terms.

Coiled

The term 'coiled' means an object has a spiral appearance. A coiled spring pin is one with a spiraled edge that allows for flexibility while not compromising strength. Coiled spring pins can be used in areas that see a lot of stress and movement.

I recommend: The coiled spring pin is defined at Spirol. The company is a leader in fastener manufacturing.

Shock absorbing

A spring pin is considered one of the best options for a fastening job that requires good shock absorption characteristics.

I recommend: Fastenel offers a wide array of spring pins and describes how the design of spring pins makes them excellent shock absorbers.

Dowel or joggle

A spring pin can work as a dowel to stop the movement of an object. The dowel is a pin inserted into holes through two objects to hold them together. It can also be called a joggle.

I recommend: The dowel and joggle are defined at Glossary.com.

Toothed slot

A toothed slot spring pin is one with a jagged cut instead of the usual straight cut the length of the pin.

I recommend: Connex, a manufacturer of fasteners, sells a toothed spring pin. They website explains the toothed concept and how it helps a spring pin be even more versatile.