Helicoil Screw Lock Inserts: Enhancing Thread Strength And Durability

HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts are helically wound coils made of extremely hard stainless steel. They are inserted into HeliCoil tapped holes to provide permanent conventional screw threads. One of the key advantages of HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts is their ability to prevent screws from loosening under vibration or impact. This is achieved through a unique design where one or more coils in the middle of the insert are polygon-shaped, serving as a locking device by gripping the threads of the installed screw. These inserts are highly versatile and can be used with various materials, including cast iron, alloy steel, and titanium. They offer significant advantages in terms of weight reduction and lightweight construction, making them a valuable solution for creating strong and secure screw joints.

HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts are used in lightweight construction

HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts are an innovative fastening solution, offering a range of benefits for lightweight construction. With their unique design and functionality, they have become an essential component in various industries, including aviation, electronics, automotive, and military applications.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert is a helically wound, precision-formed coil made of extremely hard stainless steel with a diamond-shaped wire. This insert is designed to be installed into a HeliCoiled tapped hole, providing permanent and conventional screw threads. One of its key advantages is its ability to create strong and secure joints with minimal spatial requirements, making it perfect for lightweight construction.

In lightweight construction, the HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert excels by optimising the use of high-strength screws in low shear strength materials. This results in fewer connection points and reduced screw dimensions, ultimately leading to reduced material usage, installation space, and overall weight. This makes it an ideal choice for applications where weight reduction is a critical factor, such as in the automotive and aviation industries.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert offers exceptional load-bearing capabilities, distributing load and tension uniformly across the joint. This results in a higher-quality screw joint compared to conventional methods. Additionally, the insert's elastic properties contribute to its outstanding performance, ensuring that the screw joint can withstand vibration and impact without self-loosening.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert's unique locking mechanism sets it apart from other fastening solutions. It achieves this through a series of "chords" or a polygonal twist on one or more of the insert coils, providing a resilient internal locking thread. This locking thread grips the bolt securely, preventing it from loosening under vibration or impact. This feature ensures the safety and integrity of the joint, even when subjected to challenging conditions.

They are made of austenitic chrome-nickel steel

Helicoil screw thread inserts are made of austenitic chrome-nickel steel. This specific type of steel is known for its strength and corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for creating strong and durable threads that can withstand high torque and stress without deforming or failing. Austenitic chrome-nickel steel is a common choice for engineering applications due to its unique properties, which include excellent ductility, toughness, and resistance to cracking, even under significant stress and load.

The use of austenitic chrome-nickel steel in Helicoil inserts ensures superior performance in a variety of engineering contexts. The inserts can accommodate a wide range of bolt sizes and provide a strong, permanent thread that resists stripping, pulling, and vibration. The inserts' unique design, coupled with the material's inherent strength, ensures that the threads will not loosen or back out over time, even in applications with significant vibration or dynamic loading.

Chrome-nickel steel is a highly versatile material that offers excellent performance in a wide range of environments. It exhibits good corrosion resistance in most natural and treated waters, making it suitable for applications where exposure to moisture or chemicals may be a concern. Additionally, its strength at high temperatures makes it ideal for use in applications where thermal expansion and contraction may be a factor.

The manufacturing process of these Helicoil inserts involves precision machining to create a uniform and consistent thread form. The use of austenitic chrome-nickel steel ensures that the inserts can withstand the machining process without compromising their structural integrity. The resulting threads are of the highest quality, providing reliable and consistent performance in the most demanding engineering applications.

Overall, the choice of austenitic chrome-nickel steel for Helicoil screw lock inserts is a testament to their durability and performance. With superior strength, corrosion resistance, and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, these inserts offer a reliable solution for creating long-lasting threads, providing a trusted fastening solution for various engineering contexts.

They are available in Free Running and Screwlock versions

HeliCoil inserts are available in Free Running and Screwlock versions. The standard HeliCoil insert is helically wound with precision-formed rounded coils and a diamond-shaped cross-section. When installed, they provide the hole with smooth, free-running threads.

The Screwlock version has all the characteristics of the Free Running insert but with an additional feature: one or more coils in the middle of the Screwlock insert are polygon-shaped. These coils act as a locking device by gripping the threads of the installed screw. This prevents the screw from loosening, even when subjected to vibration or impact. The Screwlock version allows for frequent removal and reassembly of bolts without a noticeable loss of torque.

Both the Free Running and Screwlock versions are available in a variety of materials, including standard 304 (18-8) stainless steel, as well as Dry Film Lubricant (Mollylube). They are also offered in different lengths, ranging from one to three times the nominal diameter of the bolt or screw.

HeliCoil inserts are a reliable choice for creating strong screw joints and can be used in a wide range of applications. They provide the advantage of uniformly distributing load and tension, resulting in a higher-quality screw joint compared to one without a HeliCoil insert.

They are used to strengthen threads in weaker materials

HeliCoil screw lock inserts are used to strengthen threads in weaker materials. They are helically wound, precision-formed coils of extremely hard stainless steel with a diamond-shaped cross-section. When installed, they provide the hole with smooth, free-running threads.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert has all the characteristics of free-running inserts but with the addition of a locking feature. This is achieved by designing one or more coils in the middle of the screw lock insert to be polygon-shaped. These coils serve as a locking device by gripping the threads of the installed screw, effectively preventing the screw from loosening under vibration or impact.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert is ideal for use with weaker materials such as aluminium or aluminium-magnesium alloys. By using HeliCoil inserts, high-strength screws can be optimally utilised in low shear-strength materials. This results in fewer connection points and reduced screw dimensions, leading to less material, reduced installation space, and lower weight.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert's locking mechanism also eliminates the need for additional locking mechanisms such as lock wiring, lock nuts, lock washers, chemical compounds, or plastic pellets/patches. This further contributes to weight reduction and cost savings.

The HeliCoil Screw Lock Insert's ability to strengthen threads in weaker materials makes it a versatile and reliable solution for various applications, ensuring secure and high-strength screw joints.

HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts are available in a range of materials and coatings

In addition to stainless steel, HeliCoil offers inserts in other materials, including austenitic chrome-nickel steel. Chrome-nickel steel provides excellent abrasion resistance and contributes to a high-strength thread. The use of chrome-nickel steel results in a lower thread friction torque, allowing for more precise adjustments during screw tightening.

HeliCoil Screw Lock Inserts are also available with different coatings, such as the Dry Film Lubricant (Mollylube). This coating option provides lubrication to the insert, reducing friction and enhancing performance. The availability of various coatings allows users to select the most suitable option for their specific requirements.

The range of materials and coatings offered by HeliCoil ensures that their Screw Lock Inserts can be tailored to diverse applications, including those in aviation, electronics, industrial, automotive, and military fields. The inserts' versatility and adaptability make them a reliable choice for creating strong and secure screw joints.

HeliCoil's commitment to providing a diverse selection of materials and coatings for their Screw Lock Inserts showcases their understanding of the varying needs of different industries and applications. By offering options, HeliCoil empowers users to make informed choices that align with their specific requirements, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

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