Holes for screws?

is it possible to make a pcb hole that is already ready for screwing a screw? I am not sure how to described it. it should be a hole that this type of handle can “catch” on:

You mean a threaded hole?
No, at least not with any standard process.
But, press-in or solder-in threaded inserts are widely available.

See: PEM fasteners.

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I use these (created my own…)

Perhaps these couple of STEP models are useful for you (make your own Footprint).

You didn’t say what Thread’s/Size…
Pems_Insert.zip (304.9 KB)

Yeah…I am not a mechanical engineer, but my hunch is that FR4 will not work so well with self-threading screws such as wood screws (if that is what you have in mind.) I can imagine that it might seem to grab OK at first but might fail with a bit of use. I do not think that FR4 is very plastic (in the adjective sense). Perhaps the bigger problem is that most pcbs are not thick enough. You would want to have at least a few threads worth of “grab.”

I cannot tell much about the screw threads from your picture.

I suppose this would not be difficult to try. All someone needs is some self threading screws and a scrap pcb with one or more holes that fit.

Inserts (as others have noted) make sense but my preference would be to use a nut; probably with lockwasher or maybe a locknut.

I’m not sure, I think it M5 (?) link

A year or two ago, I did some Pull-Tests on different Threaded-Inserts on different PCB materials… including FR4 and Poly with and without Cloth-Layer.

FR4 was the worst.
Tests also included Cold-Press and Heat-Pressed (Heat used Soldering Iron with the Heat-Tip for that process (Tips shown below and Can buy at Amazon).

I made some Video’s but cleaned out my System and have only one Vid done prior to buying a proper Gripper… (I may have Vid’s on a Backup and may/may-not look for it. Thus, I post this video… sorry but, you’ll get the idea…

PEM’s and Insert’s are Not the same thing; see below.

PCB-Inserts are Pressed-Into PCB the full-length. PEM’s come in a variety of types but, most often are miss-labeled as Inserts. Below shows real PEM on my finger-tip, and you can see the serrations on the thin Ring. These PEM’s are pressed into material from the Underside and the Screw is screwed from the Topside.The serrations are Not for binding they are for holding in-place until screwed down.

M5 Threaded-Inserts for PCB may be difficult to find at the Thickness of the PCB…
The long Brass things are the Heat-Tip’s.


I would just go with a plain hole large enough to admit the desired screw size then use a machine screw or threaded standoff to mount the board.