Pins

Industrial Pins

Industrial pins are the precision components that connect, locate, and secure parts in mechanical assemblies — dowel pins for accurate location, taper pins for adjustable connection, split and roll pins for retaining and securing, clevis and hitch pins for quick-release attachment. Each pin type does a specific job, and getting the right pin for the right application is what keeps mechanical assemblies precise, secure, and serviceable. AIMS Industrial stocks the industrial pin range for engineering, fabrication, and maintenance applications.

The pin types in our range

• Dowel pins — precision-ground straight pins for accurate location of mating components, typically press-fit
• Taper pins — slightly tapered pins for connections that may need disassembly, fit a tapered reamed hole
• Split pins (cotter pins) — split-end pins that bend over after installation to retain a castle nut or similar
• Roll pins (spring pins) — hollow, slotted pins that compress to fit a smaller hole and spring open to grip
• Clevis pins — straight pins with a head and a hole through the shank for split-pin retention
• Hitch pins — quick-release pins with a spring or wire retainer for fast attachment and release
• Lynch pins — similar to hitch pins, used for towing and trailer applications
• R-clips — wire retaining clips that secure clevis and hitch pins
• Knock-out pins (drift pins) — for driving out other pins during disassembly

Materials and finishes

• Steel (zinc-plated) — general industrial use, the everyday choice
• Stainless 304 and 316 — for marine, food-grade, and corrosive environments
• Brass — for non-magnetic applications and decorative work
• Hardened steel — for dowel pins where high precision and wear resistance matter
• Phosphor bronze — for spring applications and corrosion-resistant springy pins

Choosing the right pin

Match the pin to the function. For accurate location of mating components, a dowel pin in a precision-reamed hole. For removable connections that may need adjustment, a taper pin. For retaining a castle nut or similar threaded component, a split pin. For a low-cost retaining pin in a sheet metal application, a roll pin. For quick-release attachment (trailer hitches, machine guards), a hitch pin or lynch pin. Get the function right first, then match material to environment.

Sizing dowel pins

Dowel pin sizing is precise — the pin fits the hole with a specific interference (press fit) or transition fit, depending on whether it's pressed once and stays, or is fitted and removed periodically. Standard tolerances are h6 (slight interference) for permanent press fits and m6 or k6 for removable fits. The mating hole needs to be reamed to a matching tolerance — drilled-only holes don't give the precision needed for proper dowel function.

Roll pins — useful workshop knowledge

Roll pins (also called spring pins) compress to about 90% of their nominal diameter when installed. The hole should be drilled to about 1-2% smaller than the pin's nominal size — too tight and installation damages the pin; too loose and the pin rattles. Roll pins are forgiving of small hole diameter variation, which is why they're popular for sheet metal and rough-tolerance work.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Hobson, Bremick, and Inox World cover the industrial pin range across the standard sizes and finishes. We hold trade pack quantities and can source non-standard pins on indent.

Need help with pin selection, sizing, or material? contact our team — we'll match by application and environment.