Stainless Steel Dowel Pins for Solar Panel Mounting 316 Stainless Steel Dowel Pins

Description

What Are Stainless Steel Dowel Pins?

Stainless steel dowel pins are precision cylindrical fasteners made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, designed to align and secure machine components with high accuracy. They are ideal for applications requiring durability, rust resistance, and tight tolerances in harsh environments, such as medical, marine, food processing, and chemical industries.

Materials of Stainless Steel Dowel Pins

1. Austenitic Stainless Steel (Non-magnetic, excellent corrosion resistance):

   • 304 (A2) – General-purpose, good chemical resistance.

   • 316 (A4) – Superior corrosion resistance (saltwater/chemical exposure).

2. Martensitic Stainless Steel (Magnetic, heat-treatable for hardness):

   • 410 – Moderate corrosion resistance, high strength.

   • 420 – Enhanced hardness for wear resistance.

3. Precipitation-Hardening Stainless Steel (High strength + corrosion resistance):

   • 17-4PH (630) – Used in aerospace and high-stress applications.

Surface Treatments

• Passivation – Removes free iron and enhances corrosion resistance (standard for stainless steel).

• Electropolishing – Smooths surfaces, improves cleanliness (common in medical/food industries).

• Teflon Coating – Reduces friction and galling in high-contact applications.

• Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coating – Extreme wear resistance for high-load scenarios.

Specifications

• Diameter Range: 1 mm to 25 mm (common sizes: 3 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm).

• Length Range: 5 mm to 150 mm (custom lengths available).

• Tolerances: ISO h6 (precision fit), h7/h8 (standard fit).

• Types:

  • Straight Dowel Pins – Most common for alignment.

  • Grooved Dowel Pins – Improved retention with lateral grooves.

  • Stepped Dowel Pins – Multi-diameter designs for specialized fits.

Applications

✔ Medical Devices – Surgical instruments, MRI machines (non-magnetic 316).
✔ Food & Beverage Equipment – Hygienic, easy-to-clean surfaces.
✔ Marine & Offshore – Saltwater-resistant components (316 preferred).
✔ Chemical Processing – Resistant to acids/caustic environments.
✔ Aerospace – High-strength, lightweight assemblies (17-4PH).

Excellent Case: Surgical Robot Arm Assembly

Challenge: A medical device company needed to ensure ultra-precise alignment of robotic arm joints while maintaining sterilization compatibility and zero rust risk.

Solution: Electropolished 316 stainless steel dowel pins (4mm diameter, 15mm length, h6 tolerance) were used to align titanium joint components.

Results:
✅ Zero Corrosion – Withstood repeated sterilizations (autoclave/chemical wash).
✅ Perfect Alignment – Reduced robotic arm positional errors by 0.02mm.
✅ Longevity – No wear observed after 500,000 operational cycles.