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How do Turnlock fasteners work?

Turnlock fasteners are a type of mechanical fastener that works by twisting a component into place. The fastener consists usually of a male and female component, with the female component having two arms. The male component has the cross pin that fit into the two arms of the female component when the male component is twisted. The two arms then lock around the two pins, that are held together by a spring function, providing a secure connection.

When the male component is twisted, the two arms of the female component press against the two pins, creating friction which holds the two components together. This also prevents accidental disengagement of the two components. The arms are designed to be locked in place at different angles, allowing the two components to be secured at an angle. This means that the components can be used in a variety of Turnlock fasteners are typically made of stainless steel or steel zinc plated or aluminum and are used for a variety of applications, including the securing of aircraft components and other objects. They are also used in some consumer products, such as bags and luggage. Turnlock fasteners are strong, secure, and reliable, and are a great choice for applications where strength and security are a priority.

Turnlock fasteners can be managed by hand or by a tool (dependent on the head style of the stud). When the stud is twisted 90°, the stud assembly is rotated and the cross pin rides up the cam causing a controlled joint preload to be applied. A positive mechanical stop is reached and the cross-pin falls into the locking position. The reverse twist motion will unlock the system, allowing quick and easy access.

Turnlock fasteners fix components under an elastic preload. The spring element to produce the preload can be part of the stud or receptacle. Fastener tensile loads specified in the catalogue are reached after overcoming the spring element generated preload.

Unlike threaded fasteners, Turnlock fasteners do not rely on the elasticity of joint and fastener materials to accomplish preload. The stud assembly or receptacle is created with a spring element which allows repeated application of controlled preload with assured reliability over cycles.