The new Atlas RIV 990 hexcutter tool from Penn Engineering is uniquely engineered to convert pre-drilled round holes to hexagonal holes and promote reliable installation of full or half-hex bodied blind threaded inserts. The tool ideally suits the Atlas FM product line of full metric blind threaded inserts offering solutions for attachment applications where only one side of a panel is accessible for hardware installation, such as tubing and extrusions.
The tool operates efficiently and cost-effectively on 90psi air pressure and accommodates interchangeable noses to correspond with hole-size requirements. Upon proper hole conversion, a variety of full metric blind threaded inserts can be installed quickly and permanently in aluminum, steel, or stainless steel panels of any hardness and as thin as .020”/0.5mm. Inserts can be specified in a wide range of available thread sizes (from #8-32 to 5/16-18 and M4 to M8) and head styles (flat, thin, or countersunk).
Blind threaded inserts introduce practical assembly alternatives to tapped holes, weld nuts, rivets, and self-drilling or tapping screws, and can resolve close-to-edge mounting challenges. They can be installed anywhere and at any stage in the shop or field with a single mating screw completing final component attachment.