What Are Quarter Turn Fasteners?

Fasteners are unique components that are found in countless applications, providing securing mechanisms for many assemblies. As such, they find use in a diverse set of industries including aviation, automotive, off road, and more. Coming in a variety of styles and types, fasteners are available in both simplistic and complex designs. With this in mind, this blog will cover quarter turn fasteners, a type of fastener that is often overlooked, but is incredibly useful.

Quarter turn fasteners distinguish themselves from other fasteners in that they feature a more complex style that allows for a 90 degree rotation during installation. This quarter turn rotation provides a quick and secure fastening mechanism. In addition, they apply a clamping force and offer a strong locked position that prevents accidental opening.

In terms of appearance, quarter turn fasteners have a stud, retaining ring, and receptacle, but do not have a threaded shank like bolts. Instead, they feature a smooth body enclosed in a cam lock. They connect components under a spring preload, and the stud assembly is designed with internal spring components, allowing users to repeatedly preload it.

When the stud rotates inside the receptacle, a cross pin moves up the cam, causing a loading action to be applied. This complete motion is achieved by rotating the stud 90 degrees. Once a quarter turn is completed, a positive mechanical stop is reached, and the cross pin drops into the locking detent with the help of the spring. It is important to note that the spring is the component that provides the locking force, as well as resistance to vibration and fastener loosening.

Similar to other fasteners, quarter turn fasteners offer a variety of possible interfaces, including a winged design that enables tool-free installation and removal or a knob design with an arrow indicating whether a fastener is fully engaged. However, the simplest designs are those with a slotted or Phillips-head that are used alongside a standard screwdriver.

One of the major reasons quarter turn fasteners are utilized lies in their ability to resist vibration as facilitated by the spring mechanism. The spring action produces rapid locking against vibration. More than that, quarter turn fasteners can be customized to meet material specification requirements. This design flexibility allows for a variety of options in terms of actuation, ejection, stud and receptacle styles, retention, and trim.

Versatile in design while being low in cost and assembly time, quarter turn fasteners can be optimized with the addition of snap-in, adhesive-mount, and slip-on components. Over time, however, certain components may be affected by disassembly and reassembly; thus, if your fastener endures wear or shows signs of failure, sourcing top-quality replacement parts is critical.

If you find yourself in need of quarter turn fasteners, turnlock fasteners, bolts, nuts, or other related components, rely on ASAP Aviation Unlimited. ASAP Aviation Unlimited is an online distributor of aircraft parts, aviation components, NSNs, and much more. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and had-to-find items, you are bound to find what you need with ease. More than that, you can trust in the integrity of our stock as we subject our products to a series of rigorous quality assurance measures, tests, verifications, and assessments. When you find an item that sparks your interest, we invite you to fill out and submit an RFQ form for your benefit. Within 15 minutes upon submission, a dedicated representative will reach out with a customized solution that fulfills your operational requirements. Kickoff the procurement process and see how ASAP Aviation Unlimited can serve as your strategic sourcing partner. Alternatively, you can give us a call or email; we are available 24/7x365!