E-M™ Stud
The E-M™ stud (electrical-mechanical) is a blind fastening system designed for grounding terminal purposes and lightweight structural attachments. This mechanism was developed to create an improved method for installing grounding terminals.
Design features
The fastener is placed into a pre-drilled, loose tolerance hole from one side of the work. Standard “pull tools” are used to exert an axial load until the stem separates. Once installed, the grounding stud is immediately ready for the attachment of one or more grounding straps. The grounding stud makes full contact with – and expands – the cylindrical hole surface to achieve a positive electrical contact and firm mechanical attachment.
The E-M™ studs are available in several material combinations. These studs are made of alloy steel and A286 corrosion resistant steel. Sleeve materials include aluminum and 300 series stainless steel.
Cost-effective features
Lower installed costs:
Compared with the traditional method of providing grounding terminals for electrical equipment, this system offers a significantly lower total installed cost due to the ease of installation and the reduction in the number of components. At 12 installations a minute, the simplicity of installation and nominal part cost also combine to provide a significantly lower installed cost.
Simple installation:
Installation of the E-M™ stud is simple, convenient and fast. Rivet type pull tools are used to seat the stud and expand the sleeve.
Easy maintenance:
Cleaning the sheet surface in the hole area is unnecessary. This is because the E-M™ stud makes full contact with the cylindrical hole surface.
Weight savings:
Traditional studs are composed of many parts. The E-M™ stud only requires a loose tolerance hole that can result in drastic weight savings. Additionally, the E-M™ stud consists of only two parts assembled as a single unit.
Durable:
E-M™ studs have undergone rigorous mechanical and electrical tests in conditions that replicated 50,000 hours of aircraft service. The E-M™ studs withstood the entire sequence and showed a voltage drop of less than 7 millivolts.