Buyer’s Guide to Metric Dowel Pins

Posted: April 3, 2018 | Author: mfsupplyblog | Filed under: DIN 6325, DIN 7, dowel pin, ISO 2338, ISO 8734, Metric Dowel Pins, Mil-Spec, PRECISION DOWEL PIN |Leave a comment

7 Things to Know When Buying Metric Dowel Pins

This guide is a follow up to our Dowel Pin Buyer’s Guide. This post is specifically written to share with you the available options when it comes to procuring precision Metric dowel pins.

Our goal is to help simplify the buying process and guide you in the critical selection factors for this sometimes complex and confusing category of fasteners.

1. What standards are Metric Dowel Pins made to? 

Metric dowel pins are tricky because they fall into two buckets:

1. DIN / ISO standard – These metric Dowel pins are readily available in the commercial marketplace and in addition to your suppliers, can be procured through national catalogers like Mcmaster-Carr, Grainger and Holo-Krome. They come on steel and stainless steel.
2. Precision Metric Dowel Pins – These “Precision” dowel pins are manufactured by precision component brands such as Pic Design, WM Berg and Unicorp who have their own technical specifications and are not governed by DIN or ISO standards. They are usually only offered in stainless steel through distributors of precision components.

2 . What are the specific criteria I can select for Metric dowel pins?

Here is a list of the criteria and available options available:

• Size
• Material
• Hardened or Unhardened
• End style
• Tolerances

3 . Can you list the standard and precision dowel pins available off the shelf?

• DIN 7
• DIN 6325 & DIN 6325H
• ISO 2338A & ISO 2338B
• ISO 8734
• PRECISION UNHARDENED PRESS FIT DOWEL PINS SS303
• PRECISION HARDENED DOWEL PINS SS416

4. Which types of metric dowel pins are available in which sizes and materials? 

Use this handy grid to understand the sizes and materials available in each Metric dowel pin style.

Standard	Ends	Materials	Tolerances / Fit	Hardness	Diameters
DIN7 ISO 2338 ISO 2338A	Rounded or beveled	Steel (least common)   300 Series Stainless Steel including A1=18-8, 303, 304 A4=316	M6 diameter tolerance Slightly Oversized   aka Press Fit	Unhardened	M.8-M20
ISO 2338B	Rounded or beveled	300 Series Stainless Steel A1=18-8, 303, 304	H8 diameter tolerance	Unhardened	M1.5-10
DIN 6325 DIN 6325H ISO 8734A ISO 8734	Rounded on one end Beveled on one end	Alloy Steel	M6 diameter tolerance Slightly Oversized   aka Press Fit	Hardened to RHC 52-62	M1-M25
Precision Unhardened	Rounded	300 Series Stainless Steel	M6 diameter tolerance Slightly Oversized   aka Press Fit	Unhardened	M1-M12
Precision Hardened	Rounded on one end Beveled on one end	416 Stainless Steel	M6 diameter tolerance Slightly Oversized   aka Press Fit	Hardened to RHC 36-42	M2-M10

Important note:  All pin options may not be available in all sizes and materials.

5. When ordering, do I need to specify the dowel pin tolerance or call out attributes such as standard, undersized or oversized fit? 

Metric dowel pins can show up under DINs and ISO numbers, including : DIN 7, DIN 6325, and ISO 2338 and 8734. When ordering DIN/ISO dowel pins it is best to include the Diameter, Length, Material, DIN or ISO and tolerance.  For non DIN/ISO Precision metric dowel pins, you can order by the manufacturer part number, such as Pic (MDP series), WM Berg (DM Series), or Holo-Krome.

6. Can I specify if I need radius (round) or chamfer (bevel) on the pin ends?

The pin style will depend upon the spec and the material. Precision dowel pins may come with either a double chamfer, double radius, or a radius on one end and a chamfer on the other end.  Check with the handy grid above for guidance.

Important note:  The configuration of the ends of unhardened metric dowel pins are at the discretion of the manufacturer.  If you have a specific style requirements, you might need to special order which usually involves a minimum and a lead time.

7. What if I need domestic or DFAR certified Metric dowel pins? 

If you are ordering by a Precision Manufacturer part number, you are in luck!  Most of the stainless steel pins produced by Pic, WM Berg and Unicorp qualify as DFAR compliant and full certifications with material certs and test reports are often available for USA made parts for a fee.

Metric Dowel Pins at MF Supply

We offer:

• The full range of commercial Metric Dowel pins including parts that are USA made, DFARS and ROHS compliant.
• Metric sizes including ASME ANSI B18.8.2, DIN 7, DIN 6325, and ISO 2338 and 8734
• Metric Precision Dowel pins including Press-Fit Series and all MD series pins in 416 and 303 Stainless Steel.
• Brand names and generic equivalents.
• Custom-made parts per print in non-standard sizes and exotic materials and finishes.

For more detailed information about Metric Dowel Pins, to request a line card, or to send an RFQ, visit our website. And if you don’t see what you need listed, as always, ask us. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!

Contact me at robin@mfsupply.com with your questions, comments or helpful hints!

About Us

For more than 40 years, MF Supply has helped American manufacturers streamline operations, saving them time and money with our sourcing expertise and unique supply chain strategies. We are a WBE/WOSB certified stocking distributor of fasteners and electronic components.

We work with the best-established factories in the United States and DFARS-certified countries, and stock a huge inventory including all major brands and equivalents. MF Supply provides solutions including: same-day drop ship direct from the factory; custom sizes, materials and plating options; and DFARS parts with full paperwork and Certificates of Conformance.

We creatively solve common problems including hard-to-find parts and long lead times. Our sourcing and reworking expertise includes fast turnaround for modification of existing parts, hard to find standards and specials, special threads, non-standard diameters and lengths, exotic materials, special platings and short runs. We provide functional equivalents to expensive brand name fasteners and help our customers save money while reducing lead times.

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