Swage Pins | Cold-Formed to Spec | Precision Manufacturer

Swaging reshapes metal by compressive force rather than cutting, preserving material grain structure for superior strength. In pin manufacturing, swaging produces precise retention features — such as stars, splines, and knurls — that lock pins securely into plastic or metal housings. It also eliminates scrap, reduces cost, and produces no tool wear compared to machining.

A swaged pin typically features a smooth cylindrical body with a precisely formed retention zone — this could be a star cross-section, spline tabs, an inscribed square, or knurled grooves. The retention area is larger in diameter than the base wire, achieved by redistributing material outward. Electropin's star feature can expand diameter up to 50% beyond the original wire diameter.

A swage mount refers to the method of permanently securing a swage pin into a substrate — such as a PCB, molded plastic housing, or metal panel — using the pin's retention feature. Common swage mount methods include press-fit into metal, through-hole PCB mounting, and post-insertion into molded plastic, all of which Electropin's pins are engineered to support.

Electropin manufactures swage pins in lead-free brass, stainless steel, and other metals. Lead-free brass eliminates REACH and RoHS compliance concerns without requiring leaded alloys. Stainless steel options are ideal for demanding environments requiring corrosion resistance or higher hardness in medical and industrial applications.

Electropin can begin manufacturing your custom swage pins and deliver the first batch in as little as two weeks, provided raw materials are available. Subsequent production batches are scheduled on your specified timeline, and production volume can be scaled dramatically to accommodate changes in demand.

Yes. Electropin offers full Design for Manufacturing (DFM) consultation, custom die creation, and collaborative engineering to refine your pin geometry for optimal performance. Whether you need press-fit retention, anti-rotation features, through-hole PCB profiles, or post-insertion barbs, Electropin's team works directly with engineers to develop and validate the right specification.