Cage Nut

A cage nut is a nut held in a spring steel cage so it can be clipped into a square hole in thin sheet or a panel. It gives a thread on the far side of the panel for a bolt to pull into.

A cage nut clips into a square hole in a panel and gives a threaded fixing point behind the panel. It takes a screw of the same thread and class, and it often pairs with a washer. It suits racking, cabinets and enclosures where a nut cannot be held by hand.

Cage nuts are usually made of steel, with the cage in spring steel and the nut in a softer grade. The grade affects the load the thread can take, so match it to the bolt.

This is a general guide to checking this kind of part. It says nothing about any supplier's parts.

Ask for a certificate of conformance and a test report for the strength grade. On receipt, check the cage springs back, the nut sits square and the thread runs clean.