Self-Clinching Screw

A self-clinching screw is a fastener pressed into a sheet metal panel to form a permanent threaded point. It gives a reusable thread in thin sheet without a nut.

A self-clinching screw presses into a drilled or punched hole in thin sheet metal. It forms its own thread in the sheet as it is installed, so it needs no nut. A press or a squeeze tool sets it, and the screw then takes a matching nut or a tapped part.

Self-clinching screws are often made in stainless steel or zinc-plated carbon steel. The choice depends on the panel material and the corrosion risk.

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 check the knurl and head form on receipt. Confirm the hole size suits the panel, and test a sample in scrap sheet before production.