Tang-Drive Thread Insert for Light Alloy Substrates
The Tang-Drive thread insert is a precision-formed wire thread insert developed for light-alloy substrates where conventional tapping fails. Soft metals such as aluminum (Al 7075-T6) and magnesium (AZ91D) have low thread-bearing capacity, so repeated assembly quickly strips the hole and can scrap an entire casting. The insert is driven into a prepared boss and cold-flows to form a durable, high-strength internal thread rated up to 1,200 MPa shear — roughly 3.2× the strength of the parent aluminum.
A positive-drive tang engages the installation tool to prevent cross-threading and holds ±0.02 mm positional accuracy, which is critical for fuel-injector ports and other tight-tolerance features. The dual-phase reinforcement and 0.3 mm undercut protect the base material from galling, giving a zero-scrap installation that is fully compatible with standard HeliCoil® tooling — so no operator retraining is required. The result is a thread that withstands thermal cycling and vibration without loosening or fatigue failure.
Specified for programs where thread reliability must be certified rather than assumed, it offers a qualified upgrade from a failed light-alloy hole to a production-grade joint.
Ideal for joints where thread failure means a safety recall, the Tang-Drive insert serves aerospace wing-spar fittings and landing-gear actuators (NASM8846 Class 3, FAA AC 43.13-1B compliant), EV battery chassis and turbocharger housings that see 50G vibration and 200 °C, and hydraulic valve blocks in heavy machinery requiring IP69K sealing. Non-magnetic 316L versions suit satellite antenna mounts and server-rack frames where corrosion and FOD control matter.
From aircraft structures and EV powertrains to heavy hydraulics and server hardware, it is the standard answer wherever a stripped soft-metal thread would scrap an expensive part.
