In the world of manufacturing, weight matters. Lighter components not only put less stress on equipment, but often require less raw material and are cheaper to manufacture. 

At Bead Electronics, we’ve been manufacturing Hollow Pins using swaging since 1920. Compared to machined pins, our Hollow Pins provide the functionality you need while using  30-70% less material. 

Hollow Pins as Hinge Pins

Hollow pins can be used like a rivet, mechanically attached to sheet metal, allowing it to act like a hinge pin. The pins are attached using staking, a mechanical technique used to hit the pin from one end. Compared to other techniques, staking requires less force and is a more controlled and consistent process. Louvers on air handlers are installed on these pins and can be adjusted as needed. The roundness of our Hollow Pins helps them rotate better than a sheet metal, making them ideal for hinge pins. 

Hollow Pins vs. Solid Pins

There are several methods to produce pins, including swaging, machining and cold heading. 

Swaging is a unique cold-forming process that starts when a continuous metal strip is pulled through a precision-engineered draw die to form a seamed tube. Tube diameters are then reduced in progressive forming cavities and then separated from the tube. It is a high-speed, virtually scrapless process where metal is moved and not removed. 

Machining involves feeding metal rods through a turning press producing loose piece interconnect pins and contacts. This process creates a lot of metal scrap which adds cost to this fabrication option.

When comparing these two options, swaging is the more economical choice for both solid and hollow pins. A solid swaged pin weighs about 50-60% less than its machined counterpart, while a swaged hollow pin weighs about 80% less than a solid machined pin, equivalent to a 70-80% cost savings. 

Cold Heading, similar to swaging, is a metalworking process that shapes metal at room temperature without heating it. Compared to a cold headed solid pin, a hollow swaged pin is about 30-55% lighter. 

Hollow Hinge Pins Applications

Bead Electronics’ Hollow Pins have been successfully used as hinge pins for over 50 years. Many leading HVAC manufacturers (large and small) worldwide rely on our Hollow Pins for their products.

Why Choose Bead for Your Pin Needs

At Bead Electronics, our pin solutions are tailored to your specific needs. Our Hollow Pins are easily customizable, from the outer dimensions to the overall metal thickness. For pin solutions that are delivered on time, under budget and meet your unique needs, trust Bead. 

Contact us today to learn more!