How Do You Use Cage Nuts With Rackmount Screws?

Racking for computer systems and electronics is an important and valuable piece of equipment. The structural stability of this set up is largely dependent on the rackmount screws and coordinating fasteners used. All must work together to provide the support necessary for your equipment. Durability and flexibility are two important factors and using cage nuts with the rackmount screws is one way to capture both.

                                                                                                                        

What Are Cage Nuts?

An innovative type of fastener, cage nuts are used almost exclusively in rack rails with square holes. They consist of a square nut surrounded by a spring metal cage that is slightly larger than the nut, allowing for minor adjustments and alignments when the nut is tightened. The cage portion has two wings that can be pinched, allowing the component to fit into the square holes on 19-inch racks. When the wings are released the cage nut is held securely in place in the rack.

Why Are Cage Nuts Necessary?

Clearance hole racks became the standardized form for 19-inch racks after the use of tapped racks was found to be unreliable and expensive. And this type of rack requires the cage bolts to precisely and securely hold in rackmount screws. Instead of the racks being tapped to fit a certain type or style of threaded bolt, square holes are punched through and the cage bolts are then matched to whatever bolt is in use. This type of design also cuts back on bolt breakage from frequent changes to the racks.

Clearance hole racks are used with computer systems, home and professional video and audio equipment and many components used in the telecommunications industry.

Cage Nut Specifications

There are several sizes of cage nuts available, with 10-32 and 12-24 being the most common in North America. M6 and M8 are also used in Europe and other markets, with the 6mm size used for lighter duty applications and the 8mm size used with heavy items like a UPS.

Cage nuts are an inexpensive way to use 19-inch racks. When combined with rackmount screws or bolts, these fasteners help to create a secure and well supported system that can be easily changed when the need arises.