The Ultimate Guide to Engineered Fasteners

Engineered fasteners are a modern alternative to traditional fasteners. Many of them fulfill the same roles as nuts, rivets, and screws, but engineered fasteners provide additional capabilities like self-retention, vibration resistance, or installation with access to only one side of a panel. They range from simple panel clips to complex self‑retaining threaded nuts, with many categories and variants in between. They are easy to install, often without tools, and reduce manufacturing labor, time, and material costs.

Engineered fasteners are used in temporary joints to speed up assembly and disassembly and in permanent joints to aesthetically hold components together in completed products. They are used across many industries, including electronics and electrical engineering, car production, HVAC, construction, and aerospace engineering.

You will not find most engineered fasteners on a typical hardware store shelf, as they are built with specific manufacturing designs in mind. This is why their designs can be complex – oftentimes, engineers will identify a fastening need within their application and design it around an engineered fastener that accomplishes that specific task, which means these fasteners are not as versatile as others. However, in many cases, they are exactly what an engineer needs.

It is vital to understand the types of fasteners available to you and the applications to which they are best suited. In this guide, we'll explore the industries that engineered fasteners are found in, the assortments stocked by Huyett, how they work, and their intended use cases.

Panel Clips and Trim Clips

Panel and trim clips form a joint that holds panels together or fixes trim parts to underlying components.

• Trim clips hold studs or shafts that are protruding from one component to a second component through tension, since no other fastener is required to complete the hold.
• Panel clips such as S‑clips and U‑clips hold two panels together, forming a joint at the panel's edge without needing additional fastening devices such as screws or rivets.

How to Use Trim Clips

Trim clips are easy to install by hand or with simple tools to provide a solid, vibration‑resistant joint. They are a single‑piece fastener, often used when a screw’s holding force is too strong for the application and may damage the mating surface.

Trim clips are often used to attach trim pieces and panels to vehicle interiors, hold components in appliances and other consumer products, and affix many trim types in the construction industry.

We stock hundreds of trim clip configurations, including multiple varieties of:

Standard and high‑strength trim clips attach to studs or blades of trim pieces or panels for attachment to a primary work piece. They are easily installed without tools and the clip is normally hidden once installed. The attached trim can be removed and reattached, making trim clips ideal for applications where mobility is necessary.

Arrow clips are plastic screw‑shaped fasteners featuring a hollow shaft that compresses when pushed into a hole and then expands to provide a holding force. Arrow clips are quick to use and ideal for lightweight holding tasks.

How to Use Panel Clips

Panel clips can be pushed into place to provide a stable, rattle‑free connection between pairs of panels. They are faster to install than other panel fastening methods because they slide over the edge or flange of a pane. Panel clips don't usually require any modification to the panel itself and take advantage of holes to attach panels.

Panel and trim clips are available in metal and plastic. Most metal clips are made of spring steel, a family of steels engineered to retain their shape despite deflection. You can also choose from a wide variety of finishes, such as plain finish, oil‑dipped, phosphate, and zinc or nickel electroplate, among others. Black, silver, olive drab, and grey painted colors are also available.

S‑Clips attach overlapping panels whose edges are arranged in opposing directions. They are available with different configurations with lead lips for easy assembly and retaining barbs for strong retention.

U‑Clips attach panels together, sliding over the edges of both panels to provide a firm retaining force. As with S‑Clips, U‑Clips are also available with barbed legs to improve retention.

Dart clips are used to attach pairs of panels. They feature a wide, sprug base with two legs. The legs compress and then expand when inserted into holes in the panels, securing components between the base and knuckles in the legs with a strong clamping force.

Push-On Fasteners

Push‑on fasteners allow components to be attached to linear shafts or studs. As the name suggests, they are pushed onto the end of the component, where the fastener's inner teeth (if they are present) engage and exert a force that holds the fastener and other parts in place. If they do not feature teeth, they will still push on and align the fastener placement or offer some holding force. Push‑on fasteners require minimal force to install while providing superior holding strength for a wide range of applications.

How to Use Push‑On Fasteners

As the name suggests, push-on fasteners are pushed into place on a shaft to hold or align the component. Their main benefit is their quick and simple installation when the holding force of a stronger fastener (like a screw or bolt) is not necessary. They come in different shapes with different features, some of which are only meant for threaded or smooth shafts and others that are designed to support either shaft type.

Although push‑on fasteners have many uses, one of the most common is to attach two panels via a stud. They are often used in consumer applications, the automotive industry, HVAC systems, white goods, and to attach wheels to axles in light‑duty equipment.

We stock over 500 types of Palnut Push‑On fasteners and related components.

Palnut Push‑On fasteners are available in various shapes and configurations, including fasteners for circular and rectangular studs and with sheared or v‑shaped teeth.

Push‑on retaining rings are thin circular push‑on fasteners for unthreaded shafts or studs. They often replace more expensive components such as cotter pins and are ideal in applications with limited space.

Decorative Push‑Ons are fasteners that incorporate a decorative plastic or metal cap. They offer a more attractive alternative to bare shafts and studs that would otherwise be exposed to the user.

Ball stud receivers, also known as spring catches, are easy‑to‑install latches for securing doors and panels. They are designed to keep doors closed by exerting an inward force on a stud. Ball stud receivers provide secure fastening and easy removal, which is why they are often used in access panels, kitchen cabinets, HVAC units, the automotive industry, and many other applications where secure fastening and easy access are required.

Self-Locking Threaded Nuts

Self‑locking threaded nuts are engineered fasteners designed to resist loosening caused by vibration, shock, and other forces. Their self‑locking effect can also be achieved with a pair of nuts on the same bolt or screw, but these fasteners offer simple, push-on installation without the use of tools.

How to Use Self-Locking Threaded Nuts

Self‑locking nuts are often used in place of standard hex nuts in scenarios where vibration resistance is a crucial consideration. This type of engineered fastener is used in many applications that would once have required a bulkier and more difficult‑to‑install nut, including in smaller electrical and mechanical devices.

Palnut Stamped Nuts resemble the push‑on fasteners in the previous section, but they are used with threaded shafts and studs. They replace traditional hex nuts in applications where limited access or weight reduction are factors.

Speed nuts, also known as spring nuts, are another alternative to the traditional hex nut and washer combination. Speed nuts are used with screws to hold panels together or to attach components to a panel. Unlike standard nuts, they require minimal torque and can be installed quickly and easily in locations where space is limited.

On‑Serts increase the strength of a hollow tube that takes a screw. They are typically used on plastic parts that might otherwise deform or break under the mechanical stresses exerted by the screw. An on‑sert is pushed over the top of a plastic tube, and a self‑tapping screw is driven through a connecting part into the tube.

Self‑Locking Threaded Nuts Materials and Finishes

Self‑locking threaded nuts are manufactured in stainless steel, spring steel, or a combination of steel and plastic. They can be finished in a wide range of paints and electroplating configurations. Browse self‑locking threaded nuts product line to learn more about the full range of nuts, materials, and finishes we stock.

Self-Retaining Threaded Nuts

Self‑retaining threaded nuts fulfill the same role as traditional threaded nuts. They reduce panel assembly complexity by easily attaching to the panel and remaining in place without additional support. Whereas traditional nuts require constant access to the back side to be assembled or disassembled, self-retaining threaded nuts are often left in place after the initial installation. This significantly reduces the time and work needed to securely attach panels with a screw or bolt or replace the threaded fastener.

How to Use Self-Retaining Threaded Nuts

Self‑retaining threaded nuts are clipped into place either from the side, front, or the back and are used in all industries that need a fast, simple, and low‑cost fastener to create a joint between panels.

Cage Nuts feature a square nut enclosed by a metal "cage" with spring legs that attach to the back of a panel through a pre-cut hole. The legs are compressed and inserted into the hole at the back of the panel. The legs expand and hold the enclosed nut in place. Once cage nuts are installed, there is no need to access the panel's back; the screw is driven through the nut from the front.

Expansion nuts are single‑piece engineered fasteners that don't require access to the panel's back. They include a tapped barrel or a stamped hole with compressible spring legs. The legs are inserted into a hole in the panel, where they hold the nut in place. When a screw is driven into the nut, it further spreads its legs, resulting in a superior holding force.

Speed Nut U‑Nuts are u‑shaped self‑retaining fasteners with a built‑in panel retaining feature. U‑nuts are installed over the panel's edge and pushed until the retaining part meets a mating hole in the panel. Once in place, a screw can be driven through the connecting panel and the U‑nut. The U‑nut's design prevents it from rotating or moving out of place, so there is no need to hold or otherwise interact with a U‑nut after installation. U‑nuts are available with a single thread retaining panel for light duty applications or a threaded barrel for greater holding power.

Self‑Retaining Threaded Nuts Materials and Finishes

Self‑retaining threaded nuts are manufactured in several steel types, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and spring steel. As with self‑locking threaded nuts, they are available with over 20 different finishes and coatings. To learn more about metal finishes, visit our Introduction to Metal Finishes guide.

Wire Management Clips and Accessories

Any business that manufactures electrical components and machinery has to find solutions to wire and cable management challenges. Fortunately, many of those challenges have already been solved with a diverse assortment of wire management accessories, clips, and ties.

Modern wire management components are easier to install and more reliable than older methods. They are available in multiple configurations, sizes, and materials, ranging from simple plastic cable clamps to more complex swivel‑joint clips.

How To Use Wire Management Clips, Clamps, and Ties 

Basic cable clamps, ties, and clips are the most common cable management components. These fasteners are meant for industrial use and feature different ways to attach wires to the clamp and the clamp to its mating surface. For example, cable ties feature plug mounts to plug the tie into a mating hole or tube mounts to clip the tie onto a tube or rod.

Cable clamps are simple plastic or metal components, often a split circle with a flattened side and a pair of screw holes on the end. However, more sophisticated designs are available, including one‑piece clamps with spring legs for attachment to panels.

Cable ties, also known as zip ties, are lengths of toothed plastic that, when threaded through an attached pawl, form a ratchet that holds wires and cables tight.

Cable clips are S‑shaped metal or plastic clips that securely attach to the edge of a panel or other component.

Our website includes many variations on these basic designs, which differ in the method they use to hold cables and the way they attach to panels.

• Fir tree clips feature a cable clamp with an easy‑to‑install fir tree fitting for fast attachment to panels. They are used in many industries to collect and route cables and pipes.
• Plug mount cable ties include a compressible fitting that can be inserted into a panel hole. Some varieties have a swivel system so the cable clamps can be repositioned.
• Stud mount cable ties integrate a cable tie with a component that securely attaches the tie to threaded studs or bolts.
• Strain relief clips firmly clamp cables to prevent mechanical forces from damaging their connection to a power source or port. They ensure that cables cannot be pulled out of their connector by dynamic stresses. 

The large number of connection and clamping style combinations allows manufacturers to select the perfect wire management solution for any project. 

Wire Management Clips and Accessories Materials and Finishes

Wire management components are primarily made of nylon, plastic, or steel, depending on their intended use case. As with all of our engineered fasteners, we stock wire management components with dozens of finishes to suit nearly any application.

Which Industries Use Engineered Fasteners? 

It is difficult to find exact use cases for engineered fasteners because they are often designed for engineers to use in specific applications. However, they are found in any industry that requires a custom, cost-effective method to join components mechanically. The following are five of the world’s largest industries that use engineered fasteners to produce everything from cars to houses to spacecraft.

Automotive

The global automotive sector made approximately 67 million vehicles in 2022, with the forecast predicting a steady incline. Most are passenger cars, but millions of light- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles are also produced along with specialized vehicles for construction, agriculture, the military, and other markets.

Profits in the automobile industry are closely tied to manufacturing costs. For example, a large company like Toyota can expect to make $2,500 profit on a $15,000 vehicle, with materials, parts, labor, and other overhead costs accounting for $12,500 in total manufacturing costs. A more efficient manufacturing process reduces costs and increases profits.

Engineered fasteners play a vital role in the quest for efficient manufacturing, and they are used in dozens of scenarios in the automobile industry, including:

• Engine and wheel assemblies
• Body assembly, including frames, doors, and body components
• Exterior and interior trim, including trim panels and dashboard trim 

The average automobile features hundreds of engineered fasteners of many different types. For example, both trim clips and push-on fasteners provide vibration-resistant joints that hold components in place without requiring screws or special tooling. They also allow for fast assembly and disassembly without extensive training, enabling the automobile industry to streamline production lines and reduce manufacturing costs.

Aerospace

Aerospace products include the airplanes and helicopters we’re all familiar with, along with vehicles we’re less likely to come across, such as military aircraft, rockets, and satellites. As of 2022, in the U.S., the aerospace and related defense and space industries employ over 2 million workers with total industry revenues of $952 billion.

The industry uses a wide range of traditional fasteners, including rivets, screws, and nuts. Still, aerospace manufacturing also calls for lightweight engineered fasteners that offer reliable and robust holding power resistant to vibration, high temperatures, and other hostile environmental factors.

In addition to the manufacturing efficiency concerns aerospace shares with the automotive industry, it has additional safety and environmental factors to consider—aerospace is a heavily regulated industry because component failures could lead to disastrous outcomes.

As aircraft components experience substantial vibration that can loosen traditional non-locking nuts that require an external locking device such as a cotter pin or lock washer, lock nuts are frequently used in aircraft construction. Lock nuts incorporate an internal locking mechanism that provides both increased vibration resistance and reduced weight.

In addition, to lock nuts, the aerospace industry also uses panel fasteners, push-on fasteners, and wire management accessories for internal components and avionics equipment.

Construction

The U.S. construction industry was valued at around $1.8 trillion in 2022. Construction prioritizes cost, speed, reduced complexity, durability, and holding power when selecting fasteners. As a massive industry spanning projects from homes to commercial buildings to bridges, construction has diverse fastening requirements, some of which are met by the following fasteners:

• Expansion nuts, also called snap-in nuts, create an attachment point in scenarios where only one side of a panel is accessible. The nut is inserted into a hole in the panel, and its legs expand to provide a serviceable joint.
• Lock nuts are used to prevent the loosening of joints in a variety of applications.
• Panel fasteners such as dart clips, arrow clips, and tube clips create secure joints between panels. They can be installed by hand or with simple tools, avoiding the need for complex and expensive specialist tooling.  

HVAC

As of 2022, the US heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry was valued at more than $27 billion. HVAC is a complex industry due to regulatory oversight, its cross-over with construction, and its deployment of various mechanical and electronic systems expected to function over long periods.

The HVAC industry uses many of the engineered fasteners we’ve already discussed in this article, both in the assembly of HVAC equipment and during installation. The following are some of the fasteners that have allowed the HVAC industry to increase assembly-line efficiency and decrease assembly and installation costs by providing easy-to-install, low-cost alternatives to traditional fasteners.

• Palnut® push-on fasteners, often referred to simply as palnuts, keep panels and other components in place. These single-piece fasteners are pushed onto studs or linear shafts, where the fastener’s teeth engage to exert a holding force. Palnuts can be installed without tools, making them an efficient alternative to screws and other traditional fasteners.
• Self-retaining threaded fasteners, such as U-shaped Speed Nuts®, facilitate fast HVAC equipment assembly and installation. Speed nuts slide over panel edges and interlock with an existing hole. A screw driven through a mating panel forms a strong joint without the need for a traditional nut. Self-retaining fasteners are ideal for fitting sheet metal panels and, because they’re self-retaining, they’re great for fastening jobs in hard-to-reach locations.
• Wire and cable management accessories are invaluable for securing cables, wires, and tubes within HVAC appliances and systems.   

Although we’ve already mentioned cage nuts, it’s worth emphasizing that they are widely used in the HVAC industry too. Cage nuts easily snap into place during assembly, and they’re often used to mount HVAC equipment.   

Furniture

Furniture is perhaps the most ubiquitous manufactured product and one we interact with every day. The US furniture industry has generated over $243 billion so far in 2023. Furniture construction historically deployed traditional joinery and carpentry techniques alongside glue, nails, and screws. However, the advent of modern flatpack furniture led to the adoption of engineered fasteners of various types.

Engineered fasteners make it easy for non-experts to put furniture together with simple tools while providing the cost and assembly line efficiencies discussed above. When you’re building a table or bookshelf from IKEA, you’re taking advantage of the state-of-the-art in engineered fasteners for furniture.

Engineered fasteners frequently used in modern furniture include cam lock nuts, self-retaining nuts, retaining rings, and many more.

The Bottom Line

You will discover more detailed information about our full range of engineered fasteners on our website, where you can search and filter by the factors that matter most to you, including the fastener type, material, finish, and size. If you can't find what you need on the website, contact our sales team, who are always happy to help.