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Threaded Inserts

Heat / Ultrasonic

Heat / Ultrasonic Inserts are designed for post-mold installation in thermoplastics. Heat and ultrasonic installation yield outstanding performance results. SPIROL offers several different series of Heat/Ultrasonic Inserts available in a long and short version of each thread size. Long lengths maximize torque and pull-out resistance, while short lengths are good for less stringent requirements at lower cost and shorter installation times. Some styles are available with or without a head. The head provides bearing surface for the mating component that also prevents jack-out (or when used in reverse, can prevent pull through). However, adding a head results in additional cost raw material of a larger diameter is required to create the head. Some non-headed Inserts are symmetrical – thus eliminating the need to orient the Insert prior to installation.

Excellent performance results can be achieved with Heat / Ultrasonic Inserts provided that they are used in the proper hole size with sufficient wall thickness around the Insert and they are installed in a manner that results in proper melting of the plastic to fill the voids of the Insert.

Heat / Ultrasonic Inserts generally provide the best balance between performance and cost.

SPIROL Standard Heat / Ultrasonic Inserts include: Series 14 for tapered holes, Series 19 & 20 for straight holes and Series 29 & 30 for straight holes. SPIROL’s Heat / Ultrasonic Inserts are available in thread sizes ranging from M2 (2-56) up to M8 (5/16-18).

If installation equipment is required, SPIROL also offers a standard comprehensive line of Insert Installation Equipment from manual to fully automatic modules, with or without fixturing, to support your Threaded Insert assembly requirements.

Application Engineering Assistance: If you would like assistance in selecting the proper Threaded Insert for your plastic assembly, please Request Technical Support! We are here to help!

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Heat / Ultrasonic Threaded Inserts Product Listing

(Series 14)

Tapered Hole

SPIROL Series 14 Tapered Inserts are designed for use in tapered holes. The tapered hole facilitates proper seating and maximizes the surface contact between the Insert and hole wall prior to the application of heat or ultrasonic vibration. Series 14 Tapered Inserts are available in short and long versions in metric thread sizes ranging from M2 to M8, and unified inch threads ranging from 2-56 to 5/16-18 .

(Series 19 and Series 20)

Headed - Straight Hole

Series 19 Straight and Series 20 Headed Inserts have a slightly tapered body designed for use in straight holes to yield excellent performance with low radial stress. Seating and installation are facilitated with a pilot and a tapered knurl and groove design. The Series 20 has the same body style as the Series 19 with the addition of a head to provide additional bearing surface for the mating component to prevent jack-out. Series 19 and Series 20 Inserts are available in short and long versions in metric thread sizes ranging from M2 to M8, and unified inch threads ranging from 2-56 to 5/16-18 .

(Series 29 and Series 30)

Symmetrical and Headed - Straight Hole

Series 29 Symmetrical Inserts and Series 30 Headed Inserts are designed with a wide center knurl coupled with two smaller knurls and deep undercuts on both ends to maximize torque and pull out performance. The Series 29 is symmetrical for ease of orientation, and the generous pilot facilitates installation into the hole. The Series 30 has the exact same body style as the Series 29 - with the addition of a head for additional bearing surface for the mating component to prevent jack-out. Series 29 and Series 30 Inserts are available in short and long versions in metric thread sizes ranging from M2 to M8, and unified inch threads ranging from 2-56 to 5/16-18 .

Additional Threaded Insert Types

Press-In Inserts
Press-In Inserts
Self-Tapping Inserts
Self-Tapping Inserts
Molded-In Inserts
Molded-In Inserts

Customizable Solutions

If you are unable to find the Threaded Insert in the thread size, length, material, finish or quantity that you require within our standard offering, or if you are unsure what Insert is most appropriate for your plastic assembly, Request Engineering Support and we will help you find the most cost-effective solution for your application.

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Your Total Assembly Solution

Installation Technology for Threaded Inserts

In addition to a comprehensive line of engineered components used for joining and assembly, SPIROL also offers a full range of Installation Equipment for Threaded Inserts for Plastics specifically designed to facilitate cost-effective and high quality assembly of your products. Our installation solutions range from manual machines to fully automatic work cells with statistical process control and error-proofing options. We are the only company of our kind that offers the total integrated solution.

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Local Design, Global Supply.

SPIROL has Application Engineers throughout the world to assist you in your designs, supported by state-of-the-art manufacturing centers and worldwide stocking facilities to simplify the logistics of delivering your product.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What temperature do I use to heat install Inserts into plastics? How do fillers affect the temperature setting of the heat machine?
We recommended starting with a temperature 50˚F (28˚C ) above the initial softening temperature for the plastic in question. For plastics with fillers, this initial differential should be increased to around 150˚F (83˚C). Pressure is Insert-size dependent and should be as low as possible in the 5 to 15 PSI (0.03 to 0.10 Mpa) range. The pressure should be just enough to push the Insert into the hole as the plastic melts.
Can I use a soldering iron to install Inserts?
Technically you can use a soldering iron to install Inserts, but it is MOST DEFINITELY not a good idea. You won’t get a repeatable insertion depth, you will likely not install the Insert straight into the hole, and you will not have control over pressure. Also, many soldering irons are not available with a variable temperature setting.
How will I know for sure if the Insert I designed into my assembly will meet the expected performance criteria? How do I know that I have properly installed the Insert into my assembly?
The only way to verify Insert performance is to test the assembly. This is a destructive test. Section the plastic component with the installed Insert in half then remove the sectioned Insert out of the hole and ensure that the features of the Insert are mirrored in the plastic. It is extremely important to ensure proper plastic flow into the features of the Insert as this dictates the torque and pull-out performance. If the plastic did not sufficiently flow into the retention features, the result will be lower Insert performance. SPIROL's Inserts for Plastics Design Guide offers more detailed information about this.
Why doesn’t SPIROL manufacture Inserts out of steel?
Despite the cost of steel typically being less expensive than brass or aluminum, it is more difficult to machine and steel chews through tooling quicker than brass and aluminum. ALSO, steel Inserts typically require some kind of plating for corrosion resistance which further increases the cost of the Insert and the potential of quality defects due to plating a threaded part – not to mention the potential of mixed product due to the plating process.
How much torque or tensile strength can be achieved in a specific plastic type?
This is impossible to answer without testing in your actual assembly. The following factors affect performance: Insert type, design within type & quality of features. Plastic specifications. Design & quality of the plastic components including hole tolerance & consistency. The installation process and quality thereof. In addition, there are so many different types of plastics and fillers (and percentage and orientation of those fillers within the plastics) coupled with the complexity of component design makes it impossible to provide Insert performance data which can be applied to specific applications. SPIROL provides a section in our Inserts for Plastics Design Guide that displays the performance of various style Inserts installed into Nylon 6/6 without fillers in drilled versus molded holes. The performance data is provided as a comparative guide between Insert types -> not to provide the actual performance that will be achieved in a specific application. For this, you will need to test!
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