Insure your machine components: better safe than sorry

It is vitally important for engineers to work with safe and secure components to achieve machine efficiency and ensure worker safety. Locking pins are a commonly used component in engineering, production, and machine manufacturing to secure moving components in a confined space, but selecting the right locking pin for the right application is of vital importance. Marcus Schneck, CEO of norelem, explains the details to consider when choosing a locking pin and the benefits they provide.

The Benefits
In the last five years, 7,200 serious accidents have been recorded in the manufacturing industry, with 33,000 workers suffering injuries caused by their manufacturing work.

Every day in production, machines are handled manually. However, in the hope of doing things faster and more efficiently, safety is sometimes ignored, leading to accidents and injuries.

These shortcuts might get things done faster, but they also pose greater risks that will prove more expensive in the long run. A simple shortcut can be failing to install a component properly, failing to position it in the machine correctly, or even choosing the wrong component for the application.

Since safety in component handling is a major concern, locking pins were created to improve the robustness of moving parts and prevent components from moving out of place and posing a potential hazard.

Locking pins, for example, are used to lock or index machine components and can be used in machine manufacturing to secure pivoting or rotating parts. Pulling a button or ring activates a pin mechanism that extracts a locking pin from a hole in another part, allowing machine connecting elements to be locked or released quickly and easily.

Locking pins offer speed and efficiency to machinery and ensure safety and security while components are in operation. Therefore, the use of locking pins can save on maintenance and repair costs in the future. Choosing the right locking pin is key to avoiding damage and accidents in manufacturing environments. The use of locking pins allows for quick adjustment of moving machine elements, usually through a predetermined retention mechanism to assist when machine parts are in motion.

Plunge into the unknown
There are currently a wide variety of locking pins on the market that offer different advantages:

Locking pins with thread locking. This locking allows the pin to be screwed in to the exact depth without the need for a spacer ring.
Locking pins with an enlarged locking pin. Enlarged locking pins are used when greater distances must be overcome between the locking pin and the workpiece or other workpiece, substantially bridging that dangerous distance.
Locking pins with a cylindrical pin and locking pins with a conical pin. The precise design of these two locking pins ensures high precision and repeatability when assembling two elements. The conical shape of the locking pin/locking hole ensures virtually no play and therefore high precision. It is recommended to use mounting sockets that accommodate the locking pin with these high-precision locking pins.

Locking pins are primarily designed to address issues related to the placement of moving components and are also the perfect solution for precise applications, especially in tight spaces or with thin walls, thanks to their compact design. It is essential that engineers choose the correct locking pin for each application. If they fail to do so, these components, designed to offer speed and efficiency in placement and locking, will do just the opposite: they will slow down production and cause lost time. Safety First Locking pins also serve a vital safety function. Any unplanned movement of components can cause a number of problems that can lead to unsafe working environments for your employees and potential damage to your machinery. A safe machine provides a safe environment and lower future costs. Locking pins offer added safety by ensuring that loose or moving components are secured in place to prevent slipping, scratches, or jamming of machines. Securing these components also reduces the likelihood of workplace accidents for workers manually handling machinery. It’s best to ensure you use the most reliable and secure products on the market suitable for the application at hand. If the wrong locking pins are used, for example, parts cannot be secured and positioned correctly, affecting the quality and safety of the workplace. Engineers looking for automatic pin locking are best served by a locking pin with a drive cone. This type of pin is subjected to a unilateral force that provides automatic locking, with the pin engaging securely thanks to the spring force and preventing any movement of the connected components. For added safety, the drive cone is released manually by pulling a mushroom-shaped button that retracts the pin. Comfort and ergonomics are also important for the long-term health and safety of workers. When working with machinery, operators must have access to components that are comfortable, easy to use, and operate frictionlessly. Every operator has different needs, so ensuring universal locking pins are available is essential. Whether it’s component material, structure, and functionality, ergonomic solutions will prevent worker injury by reducing the chances of repetitive strain injuries when handling components and machinery. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. It’s essential to understand your options with the range of standardized components available to select the right product for each application. There are many norelem locking bolts designed to secure machine components in different ways. Safety and security should be at the top of your priority list. Ultimately, a healthy worker is a happy worker. Using locking bolts when moving components not only provides peace of mind but also ensures greater efficiency and productivity. For more information about the norelem range of locking bolts, please visit: www.norelem.com About norelem norelem is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of standardized parts and components for mechanical engineering. The company offers more than 60,000 standardized products for machinery and operating elements, as well as components for automation. 98% of norelem parts are available from stock with on-site product support. About THE BIG GREEN BOOK THE BIG GREEN BOOK is norelem’s catalog of ideas and a reference book. It is the “must-have” guide to standardized engineering components. THE BIG GREEN BOOK combines product information, features, and technical information in a single source. It contains the best references, advice, and guidance and was created using a logical sequence of article numbers based on production phases.