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Animation showing how to insert a hex nut into a 4 post hex nut retainer and connect it to a C channel.
4 Post Hex Nut Retainer

Using the 4 Post Hex Nut Retainer

The 4 Post Hex Nut Retainer provides five points of contact for creating a strong connection between two structural components using one screw and nut. Each corner of the retainer contains a post sized to securely fit in a square hole within a structural component. The center of the retainer is sized and slotted to securely fit a hex nut, allowing a 8-32 screw to easily be tightened without the need for a wrench or pliers.

To make use of the retainer:

  1. Align it on a VEX structural component such that the center hole is in the desired location, and each corner is also backed by the structural component.
  2. Insert the square posts extruding from the retainer into the structural component to help keep it in place.
  3. Insert a hex nut into the center section of the retainer so that it is flush with the rest of the component.
  4. Align any additional structural components to the back of the main structural component, if applicable.
  5. Use an 8-32 screw of appropriate length to secure the structural component(s) to the retainer through the center hole and hex nut.