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What is a Turnlock Fastener quarter turn?

Turnlocks are fastening devices that provide an easy and quick solution for opening and closing panels with minimal effort. However, these are not fragile locking mechanisms. Turnlocks are vibration-resistant, meaning the quarter-turn locking of the turnlock will not open on its own but through manipulation. A turnlock assembly offers a simple and secure locking solution, very easy to use.

Components: A turnlock assembly requires at least 3 parts: the stud, the retaining washer, and the receptacle. Some series like HGR also require a grommet and a retaining ring. Another series like LMH or LEA can use a grommet INSTEAD of a retaining washer, making the assembly much simpler to install. For the turnlock assembly to function, a spring function must be involved.

Design: Turnlocks connect components under elastic preload. The tensile load of each assembly in the catalog is achieved after surpassing the preload generated by the elastic element. Unlike threaded fasteners, turnlocks do not rely on the elasticity of joint materials and fastener elements to achieve preload. The stud or receptacle assembly is designed with a spring element. This allows the repeated application of controlled preload with guaranteed reliability over a high number of cycles.

How it works: When the stud assembly is rotated, the cross pin of the stud rises along the cam, resulting in the application of controlled preload. This can be done by rotating the stud 90 degrees. At this point, positive mechanical stop is reached, and the stud drops into the locking stop.