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Structural panel fasteners have been used in the aerospace industry for longer than the previous half century. This paper presents the new FC43® Panel Fastener with a novel retaining feature which enables the use of a full shank stud. The retaining feature can be used with a variety of thread configurations and is independent of nut style or head configuration, providing an unprecedented modularity for this type of fastening system. With a stud design that is free of slots or axial recesses, the FC43® provides higher mechanical performance than existing equivalent panel fasteners. Mechanical characteristics and performance comparisons with the most commonly used panel fasteners in the aerospace industry are also presented.

The installation of aerospace fasteners with pneumatic or cordless tools generally requires specialized systems which are dedicated to the fastener hex size and torque, often requiring laborious disassembly for a configuration change. This paper presents a quick change system that can be used together with a large variety of tooling configurations and provides instant socket exchange without requiring wrenching or disassembly. A comparison with traditional socket system is made, highlighting the characteristics and benefits of this new technology in terms of ergonomics, productivity and cost.