An eccentric coupler is one of several types of fasteners that are used when assembling cabinet furniture. The main advantage of the eccentric coupler is its hidden installation, i.e. There are no fasteners on the front surface of the furniture. An eccentric coupler is used to connect parts at an angle of 90 degrees.
Fig.1.
An eccentric coupler is used to connect furniture parts at an angle of 90 degrees. To connect 2 parts it is necessary to use two eccentric couplers. The main advantage of the eccentric coupler is its hidden installation. Therefore, it is often used where fasteners need to be hidden, for example, on the facade of furniture.
Why are they needed?
Furniture is assembled in stages, combining different parts into a single piece of furniture. Conventional fasteners are not suitable for such purposes. Ties allow you to connect parts together at the desired angle, maintaining the strength of the connection and the entire structure.
Special furniture fasteners have long replaced traditional self-tapping screws and screws with nuts. Among the advantages of using there are 3 reasons:
- Increased reliability. After disassembly, the interior item does not lose strength.
- Design features. A separate element is used for each detail or type of furniture. Often the use of conventional fasteners is not possible.
- Aesthetics. The screed makes the connection almost invisible. The design looks beautiful and complete.
If nails are used during assembly, the parts may crack or become detached. When installed with self-tapping screws, parts of the furniture delaminate or burst. When the load on the piece of furniture increased, the fasteners came out with “meat”.
Due to the design features, conventional fastenings are not suitable for connecting several cabinets or mezzanines together. The tie helps to twist parts at an angle of any complexity, without reducing the strength of the product. The interior item does not lose stability even with frequent disassembly and transportation.
Why are screeds needed? Source neureiter-shop.at
Practical tips for installing an eccentric coupler
Pay attention to two features: firstly, the drilling depth is 12 -13 mm, and the thickness of the chipboard is 16 mm; secondly, the drill has a sharp protrusion necessary for precise drilling, measuring somewhere around 3 mm. Both of these circumstances lead to the fact that it is easy to make a mistake and punch through the laminated chipboard.
Fig.9.
A fairly common defect when drilling a hole for an eccentric. Due to the large depth of the hole, the drill can penetrate through and damage the integrity of the surface of the part.
To avoid these problems, you should use a special drilling depth limiter, with which you can accurately control the drilling depth.
Popular types
The type of furniture fastener depends on the connection task. Models are distinguished by shape, material of manufacture and method of use. Let's look at 8 main ties for interior items.
Minifix
Eccentric fasteners are the most common type of furniture parts. The device is used when connecting L- and T-shaped structures. The result is a strong alignment, completely hidden from prying eyes. Traditional minifixes consist of 3 parts:
- latch (eccentric);
- rod with head;
- decorative plug.
Video description
Eccentric coupler.
Dowel
A furniture screed visually resembles a pencil cut. Fasteners are made from natural wood, less often from plastic and steel. The common length of the part is 3 cm, diameter is 0.8 cm. There is a grooved notch on the surface of the element. The notch increases the strength of the connection.
The dowel is rarely used as an independent fastening. The part often complements the minifix, giving the connection greater rigidity and reliability. The holes are filled with furniture glue, after which fasteners are inserted. The only drawback of the screed is its fragility. The wood and the sealing element will dry out after a few years, which will cause the structure to wobble.
Wooden parts Source ortodontiya.com
Confirmat
The furniture euroscrew is made of steel alloy and coated with galvanization on top. The result is a beautiful, shiny fastener that is resistant to corrosion. Visually, the model resembles a compact self-tapping screw with a flat head and leg. The top has slots for a hex or Phillips screwdriver.
A thread was placed on the confirmation rod. The spiral rings go more freely than those of a screw. The part has a blunt end, so a hole is drilled in the furniture to install the fastener. The same size of smooth and wavy parts ensures a tight fit.
Connection model Source td-fenix.com.ua
Confirmat is a universal part that is used when assembling all types of interior items. The fasteners are easy to screw in both in industrial and home environments. To assemble furniture, you do not need professional equipment.
To connect the parts, holes are made for the spiral notch and for the cap. A screwdriver can deform the hole, so tighten the fasteners manually. The finished structure with hardware will withstand multiple load cycles.
When installing the confirmation, a metal cap is visible on the surface of the interior item. The element can be hidden under special plugs to match the frame. This type of furniture screed does not withstand frequent twisting and assembly.
Part installation Source wkretmet.ru
Screw
Fasteners are used when connecting two thick parts. The hardware consists of a metal or plastic cylinder with a hole running across it. At the top there is a pin with a cap. The thread is machined along its entire length, which ensures reliable screwing. The design has high resistance to lateral loads.
When installing, 2 holes are drilled in the surface of the ends of the parts. A cylinder is inserted into the first, matching the holes in all elements. The screw is threaded through a groove in another panel. If the structure becomes loose, the fasteners can be easily tightened. The cap is visible, so they cover it with plugs.
Furniture screed Source td-fenix.com.ua
The screw tie is ideal for connecting chair parts. The method allows you to repeatedly disassemble and reassemble interior items without damaging the components. The only drawback of the technology is that installation is carried out by professionals using special equipment. Without skill, it is difficult for a person to accurately match holes for fasteners. If there is a mistake, it is difficult to pull the cylinder out of the groove.
Corner
Hardware consists of a steel plate bent at a right angle. The kit includes two threaded fittings (futorka), providing a smooth transition of fasteners with different diameters. The ties are made of plastic or metal and installed using self-tapping screws. The model has a hole. A rod is inserted into the hole and a screw is screwed to it.
The connection method is not very reliable, so it is used for structures with light loads. Corner fasteners are used to assemble decorative parts and shelves. Using a tie, the sides of the interior items are screwed together. The fasteners are convenient for mounting the legs of a bed, table or chair.
Steel plate hardware Source math-nttt.ru
Installing an eccentric coupler
Let's look at how an eccentric screed is used using the example of a countertop and a cabinet. An example of the use of an eccentric coupler is a desk, or any case where it is necessary to connect two parts in a hidden way.
An eccentric coupler consists of two parts: a rod and an eccentric. The rod is installed in one part, and the eccentric in another.
Fig.2.
To install the eccentric coupler, you need to drill several holes. In one part, a blind hole is made for an eccentric with a diameter of 15 mm and a depth of 12.5 mm (the distance between the center of the hole and the end of the part is equal to the length of the rod), as well as a hole for a rod with a diameter of 8 mm (the distance between the center of the hole and the surface of the part is 8 mm). In another part, a blind hole with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 12 mm is made for installing the rod.
The installation of the eccentric coupler begins with markings. Before marking the parts, you need to know the installation size. In the example below, the installation dimension is 26 mm. You can find out the size either on the packaging, or upon purchase, or by measuring the stem. From the head to the beginning of the thread.
Marking the holes for the eccentric coupler
It is convenient to do the marking as follows. It is necessary to place the parts to be connected on top of each other, and mark the location line of the eccentric coupler.
Fig.3.
It is convenient to make markings on both parts being connected at once. The position of the rod relative to the front or rear end of the part is marked on the parts (usually 5-7 cm). On the part in which the eccentric will be installed, mark the center of the hole along the eccentric.
In the photo, two parts are connected at once, so I did the markings at the same time.
Next, on the part where the eccentric will be installed, the center of the hole for it is determined. In the photo above, this is a horizontal serif. The length of the segment is the installation dimension equal to 26 mm.
Hole drilling tool
After the markings are made, it is necessary to drill all the holes. The holes on the tabletop are made with a regular drill with a diameter of 5 mm. It is convenient to use special wood drills. Using a similar drill only with a diameter of 8 mm, a hole is drilled in the end of the mating part.
In order to make a sample for the eccentric, a special Forstner drill is needed. These special drills come in different diameters, so for high-quality installation of the eccentric, you should purchase a drill with a diameter equal to the diameter of the eccentric.
Fig.4.
The hole for the eccentric is made with a Forstner drill with a diameter of 15 mm. Here it is important to accurately observe the depth of the hole. Traditional hole depth is 12.5 mm. You can maintain the depth of the hole using a drilling depth limiter.
Using this drill, we make a hole with a depth equal to the thickness of the eccentric, which is about 12.5 mm.
Fig.5.
After the hole for the eccentric is ready, drill a hole with a diameter of 8 mm for the rod. The order of drilling the holes is important, so drilling a hole too deep for the rod will not allow the hole for the eccentric.
Examples of application of an eccentric coupler
Fig.6.
Fig.7.
Fig.8.
Video description
Furniture assembly. Intersectional furniture screed.
For table top
If the piece of furniture consists of several parts, then a screed for the countertop is needed. Fasteners are used for rigid fastening. The part joins the structure in such a way that the individual components do not move apart horizontally. The model is ideal for kitchen furniture. Based on the type of contraction, there are 3 types:
- Nuts. The long steel rod is complemented by washers on both sides.
- Gearbox with cylinder. Consist of a barrel and a stud with double-sided thread.
- QUICK. The structures have a tie with a self-tapping screw and a counter piece.
Paired fasteners are mounted in prepared holes. Holes are made using a Forstner drill and a groove is created with a chisel. The connecting part is placed in the free areas, and the nuts are carefully tightened with a wrench.
For connecting flat structures Source vsecuplu.ru
Manufacturing materials
Ties for connecting two parallel walls of cabinets are available from:
- Nickel plated steel;
- Galvanized steel;
- Chromed steel.
Chrome plated
Galvanized
Nickel plated
Dimensions may vary: M4-M6, screw length L1 – 15-30 mm, length L2 – 10-15 mm, outer diameter 5-8 mm. It is worth noting that over many years of using various fasteners, intersectional fasteners are the most optimal when connecting headset modules to each other. It allows not only to perfectly fasten the structure, but also facilitates the process of assembling furniture. This fastener has an attractive appearance thanks to the anti-corrosion coating.
Sometimes you can find a plastic tie design with a metal screw. Its dimensions do not differ from its metal counterparts, but it is less reliable in everyday use.
How to choose the right one
Fastening elements should not impair the functionality or spoil the appearance of interior items. Manufacturers often indicate in the instructions the type of furniture screed that should be used. During assembly it is forbidden to violate technology.
Case models store things. To ensure a strong, reliable connection, you need a confirmat. The universal mount will align the parts of the structure at the required angle. Hardware is inserted into ready-made holes, which are drilled in advance.
How to choose screeds Source uslugio.com
Ugly hats are hidden under covers. If you need to hide a furniture screed in the facade, then use minifixes. Intersectional types are appropriate for connecting several structures. For cabinets with many shelves, professionals advise using corners or dowels with eccentrics.
Purpose
When assembling a furniture product, the location of the connected parts of the structure must be checked so that its integrity is not compromised during operation. This is what a furniture tie is intended for - a fastener that makes it possible to tightly and firmly connect structural elements located in a certain position (most often at a right angle) relative to each other. If previously furniture was assembled mainly using screws and self-tapping screws, now different types of ties are used for this.
This replacement is due to three reasons:
- Increasing the aesthetics of furniture, thanks to the use of ties, the fastening of parts becomes invisible;
- Each disassembly of furniture assembled with screws reduces reliability;
- Sometimes the use of conventional fasteners is simply impossible for structural reasons.
And finally, the use of furniture ties allows for quick and durable assembly of the product.
