Description
Honeycomb & Sandwich Panel Fastening
Deform-Nut® TC/DM — 1/4-20 Threaded Insert for Honeycomb Panels
A mechanically anchored, adhesive-potted insert that adds strong, reusable 1/4-20 threads to honeycomb and sandwich panels — from one side only. Three-piece system: rivet nut, structural adhesive, and grub screw. No backside access required.
Fits aluminum honeycomb, Nomex®, fiberglass, carbon fiber, thermoplastic, and craft paper core panels from 3/8″ to 1″ total thickness.
Click to expand
Find Your Size
Measure your total panel thickness. Match it to a row below. That’s your SKU.
All variants: 1/4-20 thread | Skin thickness 0.5–2.0 mm | Drill bit 13 mm (+0.15/0) | Head dia. 18 mm | Material: Zinc-plated steel | Not sure? Email us your panel spec.
Need full dimensional drawings, metric sizes, or M8 variants? 📄 Download the complete Deform-Nut® TC/DM Drawing & Sizing Flyer (PDF)
Key Features & Benefits
- Single-side installation — no backside access required
- Mechanical anchor + structural adhesive potting for high pull-out and shear resistance
- Ribbed rivet nut body resists spin-out when driving screws
- Closed-end grub screw keeps adhesive out of the threads
- Eliminates resin potting, tie rods, and secondary finishing operations
- Works across a wide range of panel cores — no special tooling per material
- Standard rivet nut tooling — hand, battery, or pneumatic
Common Applications
- Honeycomb-backed natural stone cladding panels
- Aerospace interior and cargo panels (aluminum and Nomex® core)
- Composite transportation panels and trailer walls
- Clean room and marine cabin wall systems
- Thermoplastic-faced and Nomex®-core architectural panels
- Lightweight signage and display panels
- Carbon fiber sandwich structures
Installation — 3 Simple Steps
Full bond strength achieved after adhesive cure — typically 5–10 minutes with Ultralok 300 MMA depending on temperature and joint design.
1. Set the flange
Drill a 13 mm blind hole. Collapse the TC/DM rivet nut body with standard rivet-nut tooling to anchor the top skin.
2. Inject adhesive
Fill through the rivet nut to wet the core and back skin. Recommended: Ultralok 300 MMA for fast, high-strength potting.
3. Drive the grub screw
Thread the insert until it seats on the back skin, displacing adhesive into the structure. Closed end keeps threads clean.
How It Works — Videos
See the full installation sequence and 3D system overview.
Deform-Nut® System Overview (3D Animation)
Deform-Nut® Installation Demonstration
Technical Specifications — TC/DM10 Series (1/4-20)
| Part code | Skin thickness s (mm) |
Panel min s2 (mm) |
Panel max s2 (mm) |
Drill bit d5 (mm) |
Thread d1 |
Grub screw l3 (mm) |
Rivet length l (mm) |
Head dia. d3 (mm) |
Head thickness i1 (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC/DM10_ZI-P1.4-20/10X | 0.5–2.0 | 9.5 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 1/4-20 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 18.0 | 1.0 |
| TC/DM10_ZI-P1.4-20/15X | 0.5–2.0 | 14.5 | 18.0 | 13.0 | 1/4-20 | 15.0 | 10.5 | 18.0 | 1.0 |
| TC/DM10_ZI-P1.4-20/17.5X | 0.5–2.0 | 17.0 | 20.5 | 13.0 | 1/4-20 | 17.5 | 10.5 | 18.0 | 1.0 |
| TC/DM10_ZI-P1.4-20/22.5X | 0.5–2.0 | 22.0 | 25.5 | 13.0 | 1/4-20 | 22.5 | 10.5 | 18.0 | 1.0 |
Material: Zinc-plated steel | Tolerance: EN 22768-1 | Thread standard: ISO 6H
Compatible Substrates
- Aluminum honeycomb core
- Nomex® aramid honeycomb
- Fiberglass core panels
- Carbon fiber sandwich structures
- Thermoplastic-faced panels
- Craft paper core composites
- Natural stone on bonded honeycomb backing
Tools & Accessories You May Need
- Potting adhesive: Ultralok 300 MMA — 5-minute structural MMA, recommended for Step 2 injection. Available in 50 ml and 400 ml.
- 13 mm cutter bit: CCH-MCBIT-13MM — honeycomb-optimized hole cutter for clean, precise entry.
- Manual rivet nut tool: SPE-DNINS-M — hand tool for setting the TC/DM body.
- Battery cordless tool: SPE-DNINS-B-TCSC — for higher volume production.
- Pneumatic tool: SPE-DNINS-P — for continuous production line use.
- Dispensing guns & mixing tips: Pak-50 manual gun (CCH50G-1-1/2-1); 400 ml manual gun (ALB-B26T400); 50 ml static mixing tips (CON-MBQ-05-24L); 400 ml mixing tips (CON-MFQ-08-24T).
Technical Assistance
Not sure which size fits your panel or which adhesive to use? Our applications team can help you select the right fastener and validate your installation.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800-220-1966
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