Slotted Spring Pins
Slotted Spring Pins for Affordable Shaft Retention
Slotted spring pins, also known as roll pins, are hollow pins with a single slot running parallel down its entire shaft. Unlike
coiled spring pins (which feature multiple turns rolled over on itself), slotted pins are a single-turn component that leaves an open space between the slot. These fasteners are ideal when working with less precise hole diameters. The slot allows the pin to contract to a smaller diameter when installed into a slightly smaller hole, eliminating the need for a tightly toleranced insertion point.
Slotted pins are often used to retain shafts, connect multiple shafts together, or connect flat surfaces that have identical holes. Installation is simple for two main reasons: 1) the flexible mating hole tolerance; and 2) there are chamfers on either end of the pin shaft that ease insertion. The pin diameter is designed to be slightly larger than the hole so that, after installation, the pin compresses the slotted ends together and retains itself.
Product Benefits
As a hollow rolled component, slotted spring pins offer several specific benefits:
- Easy Installation: The process only requires common hand tools, the slot allows for compression into less precise mating holes (reducing pre-work for hole preparation), and the chamfers ease insertion.
- Cost Reduction: Because the pin is flexible and hollow, it is more affordable than tightly toleranced, solid options (like dowel pins). The application itself also requires less preparation, reducing labor costs.
- Self-Retention: The pin compresses against the mating hole, holding itself in place and reducing the need for mating components.
Product Considerations
Consider the following product characteristics as you decide which rolled pin suits your application needs:
- Materials and Finishes: Huyett offers slotted spring pins in beryllium copper, stainless steel with a passivated finish option, and high carbon stainless steel with black oxide, cadmium, phosphate, and zinc finish options. This selection offers varying levels of strength and corrosion resistance to accommodate different application requirements.
- Outside Diameters: This product is available with outside diameters (which are slightly larger than the mating hole diameter should be) between 0.63in. - 0.750in. or 1.00mm. - 50mm.
- Overall Lengths: Huyett slotted pins are available in imperial overall lengths from 0.125in. - 7.00in. and metric overall lengths from 4.00mm. - 200.00mm.
