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PFH Self-Clinching Stud

The PSM PFHS/PFH SELF-CLINCHING STUD is a threaded fastener which incorporates a knurled platform under the head, which when embedded in the sheet, displaces material into the clinch ring securing the fastener firmly in place.

Advantages

Easy to assemble with any squeeze press
High torque resistance
No damage to decorative finishes on panels
Visual proof of security
Always perpendicular to panel
Head installs flush with surface of sheet

PFH Self-Clinching Stud Design Guide

Hole Preparation

It is recommended that the holes are formed using a punch operation, although drilled holes may be used. Holes should not be countersunk or de-burred.

Hole Size

Holes must be held to a tolerance of -0.00mm + 0.08mm (-.000” +.003”).

Minimum Sheet Thickness

See product data sheets and method of assembly.

Maximum Sheet Hardness

Rb80 for Steel Studs (P-FH)
Rb70 for Stainless Steel Studs (P-FHS)

Installation

Apply squeezing pressure sufficient only to embed the head of the stud flush with surface of the sheet. Avoid excessive pressures. Installation forces vary with sheet hardness and thickness. See PERFORMANCE DATA for recommended forces.

Tooling Note

Studs are installed using a flat top punch and flat bottom anvil with a clearance hole to accept the threaded section of the stud. Where the sheet material is thin, a special thin sheet bottom anvil is required which includes a countersink at the top to create space for clinch ring and displaced sheet material. See METHODS OF ASSEMBLY page for details.

Technical Data

P-FH & P-FHS Types (Metric)

MATERIAL CODES
P-FH – Hardened Steel Zinc Plated
P-FHS – Stainless Steel

STANDARD PLATING FINISH
Zinc & Clear Trivalent Passivation (Z)

General Dimensions

Thread Size / Code	Min Sheet Thickness	Hole Size in Sheet -0.08 -0.00	Max Hole in Mating Component	S Max	Head Diameter E +/- 0.4	Minimum Distance Centre Line Hole to Sheet Edge
M2.5	1.0	2.5	3.1	1.95	4.1	5.4
M3	1.0	3.0	3.6	2.10	4.6	5.6
M3.5	1.0	3.5	4.1	2.25	5.3	6.4
M4	1.0	4.0	4.6	2.40	5.9	7.2
M5	1.0	5.0	5.6	2.70	6.5	7.2
M6	1.5	6.0	6.6	3.00	8.2	7.9
M8	2.4	8.0	8.6	3.70	9.6	9.6

All dimensions in millimeters.

Thread & Length Data

Thread Size / Code	Type		Length Code "L" +/- .04 (Length Code in Millimetres)
Thread Size / Code	Steel	Stainless Steel	6	8	10	12	15	18	20	25	30	35
M2.5	P-FH	P-FHS	6	8	10	12	15	18	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
M3	P-FH	P-FHS	6	8	10	12	15	18	20	25	N/A	N/A
M3.5	P-FH	P-FHS	6	8	10	12	15	18	20	25	30	N/A
M4	P-FH	P-FHS	6	8	10	12	15	18	20	25	30	35
M5	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	8	10	12	15	18	20	25	30	35
M6	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	N/A	10	12	15	18	20	25	30	35
M8	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	N/A	N/A	12	15	18	20	25	30	35

How to Specify PFHS/PFH Self-Clinching Stud

P-FH (Steel Standard Sizes)
PRODUCT CODE	P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z
THREAD CODE	P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z
LENGTH CODE	P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z
PLATING CODE	P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z

P-FHS (Stainless Steel Standard Sizes)
PRODUCT CODE	P-FHS - M4 - 10
THREAD CODE	P-FHS - M4 - 10
LENGTH CODE	P-FHS - M4 - 10

Technical Data

P-FH & P-FHS Types (Unified)

MATERIAL CODES
P-FH – Hardened Steel Zinc Plated
P-FHS – Stainless Steel

STANDARD PLATING FINISH
Zinc & Clear Trivalent Passivation (Z)

General Dimensions

Thread Size / Code	Min Sheet Thickness	Hole Size in Sheet +.003 -.000	Max. Hole in Mating Component	S Max	Head Diameter E +/- 0.015	Minimum Distance Centre Line Hole to Sheet Edge
256	.040	.085	.105	.075	.144	.187
440	.040	.111	.135	.085	.176	.219
632	.040	.137	.160	.090	.206	.250
832	.040	.163	.185	.090	.237	.281
032 / 024	.040	.189	.210	.100	.256	.281
0420 / 0428	.062	.249	.270	.135	.337	.312
0518 / 0524	.093	.311	.333	.160	.376	.375

All dimensions in inches.

Thread & Length Data

Thread Size / Code	Type		Length Code "L" +/- .015 (Length Code in 16ths of an Inch)
Thread Size / Code	Steel	Stainless Steel	1/4.250	5/16.312	3/8.375	1/2.500	5/8.625	3/4.750	7/8.875	11.00	1-1/41.25	1-1/21.50
256	P-FH	P-FHS	4	5	6	8	10	12	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
440	P-FH	P-FHS	4	5	6	8	10	12	14	16	N/A	N/A
632	P-FH	P-FHS	4	5	6	8	10	12	14	16	20	24
832	P-FH	P-FHS	4	5	6	8	10	12	14	16	20	24
032 / 024	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	5	6	8	10	12	14	16	20	24
0420 / 0428	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	N/A	6	8	10	12	14	16	20	24
0518 / 0524	P-FH	P-FHS	N/A	N/A	N/A	8	10	12	14	16	20	24

All dimensions in inches.

How to Specify

P-FH (Steel Standard Sizes)

PRODUCT CODE

P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z

THREAD CODE

P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z

LENGTH CODE

P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z

PLATING CODE

P-FH - M4 - 10 - Z

P-FHS (Stainless Steel Standard Sizes)

PRODUCT CODE

P-FHS - M4 - 10

THREAD CODE

P-FHS - M4 - 10

LENGTH CODE

P-FHS - M4 - 10

Methods of Assembly

P-FH / P-FHS SELF-CLINCHING STUDS are easy to install because no special tooling is necessary. However, it is very important to note that they must always be installed by a squeeze action press rather than a hammer blow. Punched holes are recommended.

Punch a hole in the metal sheet to the size recommended in our technical data table. De-burring of the hole is not recommended.
Insert the stud through the hole in sheet and into the appropriate anvil as detailed below.
Apply squeezing pressure sufficient to install the head flush with top face of sheet.

THREAD SIZE METRIC	ANVIL
THREAD SIZE METRIC	A mm	C mm
2.5	3.10 - 3.20	2.53 - 2.61
3	3.61 - 3.71	3.02 - 3.10
3.5	4.12 - 4.22	3.53 - 3.61
4	4.60 - 4.70	4.01 - 4.07
5	5.66 - 5.77	5.03 - 5.11
6	7.14 - 7.26	6.01 - 6.07
8	9.14 - 9.26	8.01 - 8.08

THREAD SIZE UNIFIED	ANVIL
THREAD SIZE UNIFIED	A inch	C inch
256	.110 - .114	.087 - .090
440	.136 - .140	.113 - .116
632	.162 - .166	.139 - .142
832	.188 - .192	.165 - .168
032	.216 - .220	.191 - .194
420	.295 - .300	.250 - .253
518	.334 - .338	.313 - .316

Thin Sheet Anvil Use

M2.5 – M5 for sheet 1.0 – 1.49

M6 for sheet 1.5 – 2.4
M8 for sheet 2.0 – 2.4

256 – 032 for sheet .040″ – .060″

0420 for sheet .062″ – .092″
0518 for sheet .078″ – .092″

Performance Data

Metric

THREAD CODE	STUD TYPE	MAX NUT TIGHTENING TORQUE (Nm)	TEST SHEET MATERIAL
			COLD ROLLED STEEL			ALUMINIUM
			INSTALLATION (kN)	PUSHOUT (N)	TORQUE-OUT (Nm)	INSTALLATION (kN)	PUSHOUT (N)	TORQUE-OUT (Nm)
M2.5	Steel	0.41	14	800	1.2	12	500	1.0
M2.5	Stainless Steel	0.41	14	800	1.2	12	500	1.0
M3	Steel	0.85	17	900	1.9	14	600	1.7
M3	Stainless Steel	0.85	17	900	1.9	14	600	1.7
M3.5	Steel	1.15	23	1400	2.8	16	850	2.0
M3.5	Stainless Steel	1.15	23	1400	2.8	16	850	2.0
M4	Steel	1.9	26	1800	4.0	20	1050	3.0
M4	Stainless Steel	1.9	26	1800	4.0	20	1050	3.0
M5	Steel	3.8	30	2300	7.0	25	1300	4.0
M5	Stainless Steel	3.8	30	2300	7.0	25	1300	4.0
M6	Steel	8.0	40	2800	12.0	30	1700	7.0
M6	Stainless Steel	8.0	40	2800	12.0	30	1700	7.0
M8	Steel	14.0	50	3200	22.0	35	7950	12.0
M8	Stainless Steel	14.0	50	3200	22.0	35	7950	12.0

Unified

THREAD CODE	STUD TYPE	MAX NUT TIGHTENING TORQUE (in/lbs)	TEST SHEET MATERIAL
			COLD ROLLED STEEL			ALUMINIUM
			INSTALLATION (lbs)	PUSHOUT (lbs)	TORQUE-OUT (in/lbs)	INSTALLATION (lbs)	PUSHOUT (lbs)	TORQUE-OUT (in/lbs)
256	Steel	2.5	2800	160	7.0	2000	100	6.0
256	Stainless Steel	2.5	2800	160	7.0	2000	100	6.0
440	Steel	5.0	3800	240	12.0	3000	150	12.0
440	Stainless Steel	5.0	3800	240	12.0	3000	150	12.0
632	Steel	9.0	5000	315	23.0	3600	190	18.0
632	Stainless Steel	9.0	5000	315	23.0	3600	190	18.0
832	Steel	18.0	6300	400	38.0	4800	250	22.0
832	Stainless Steel	18.0	6300	400	38.0	4800	250	22.0
032	Steel	32	7000	500	60.0	5500	290	35.0
032	Stainless Steel	32	7000	500	60.0	5500	290	35.0
0420	Steel	70.0	9000	630	105.0	6700	380	65.0
0420	Stainless Steel	70.0	9000	630	105.0	6700	380	65.0
0518	Steel	130.0	11200	720	190.0	7800	440	105.0
0518	Stainless Steel	130.0	11200	720	190.0	7800	440	105.0

Note: The above values are averages when correct installation is performed. Variations in hole size, material and installation will affect these results. For specific advice we strongly recommend consultation with your PSM Technology Centre.

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Frequently Asked Questions About PFH Self-Clinching Stud

What is a PFH Self-Clinching Stud?

The PSM PFH Self-Clinching Stud (P-FH/P-FHS/P-HFH) is an externally threaded fastener permanently pressed into ductile sheet metal to provide a fixed threaded post. Once installed, it allows a nut or other threaded component to be fastened from the opposite side of the panel, eliminating the need for welding, riveting, or accessing both sides during final assembly.

What is the difference between P-FH, P-FHS, and P-HFH studs?

P-FH, P-FHS, and P-HFH are variants of PSM’s self-clinching stud family, differing primarily in head style, length options, and material/finish combinations. All three provide the same core function — a permanently clinched external thread in sheet metal — with the specific variant chosen based on head clearance, available panel thickness, and corrosion resistance requirements. PSM’s dimensional data tables list the exact specifications for each variant.

What materials are PFH Self-Clinching Studs available in?

PSM PFH Self-Clinching Studs are available in hardened steel with a zinc-plated finish, and in stainless steel for applications requiring higher corrosion resistance. The zinc-plated hardened steel option suits general industrial and indoor applications, while stainless steel is recommended for outdoor, washdown, marine, or corrosive environments where rust resistance is critical.

What sheet metal materials are compatible with PFH Self-Clinching Studs?

PFH Self-Clinching Studs are designed for ductile sheet metals — primarily mild steel, cold-rolled steel, and stainless steel sheet — that are softer than the hardened stud itself, allowing the material to flow into the locking groove during installation. The host sheet must meet a minimum thickness requirement specific to the stud size; refer to PSM’s dimensional data tables for exact figures.

What is the benefit of using a self-clinching stud instead of a weld stud?

Self-clinching studs avoid the heat distortion, weld spatter, and surface damage associated with weld studs. They can be installed after surface coating or painting without affecting the finish, and require only a controlled press force rather than welding equipment. This makes self-clinching studs a faster, cleaner, and more consistent option for high-volume sheet metal production.