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Recommendations
for installing PEM® self-clinching
fasteners into Sound-Dampening (Quiet Steel® * ) panels
Laminated steel
products, such as Quiet Steel®, are gaining popularity in the marketplace.
Used in automotive, consumer, industrial, electrical and electronic
applications, they offer the ability to reduce the overall noise and
vibration in assemblies.
These laminated
panels typically consist of two pieces of sheet metal, which "sandwich"
one or more extremely thin polymer layers. It is this layer which provides
the dampening function - sound and vibration are dissipated as it passes
from one sheet of metal through the polymer layer(s) into the second
sheet of metal. However, due to this sandwich, only the top sheet of
metal is available to clinch into with a PEM fastener.
We at PennEngineering
want to provide a guide to our customers who design with these types
of materials. We tested our studs, nuts and standoffs in .060"
(1.5mm) total thickness Quiet Steel® and recommend the following:
•
When possible, use a drilled or laser-cut hole, as a punched hole
causes excessive blowout of the hole in the bottom
layer. (Figs. 4 & 5)
•
For nuts, select
the longest shank possible for the total sheet thickness.
•
Use standard flat
anvil installation tooling for nuts and studs, and de-rate the published
pushout values by 20%.
•
Use a raised ring
anvil for standoffs, and de-rate the published pushout values by 20%.
De-rate by 60% if a standard flat anvil is used for installation.
•
Torque-out performance
is minimally affected for all parts.
The PennEngineering
Technical Lab is available to test our customers' individual applications
and recommend the proper installation procedures.
* Quiet Steel®
is a trademark of Material Sciences Corporation.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
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