A Metal Insert for the Hole in Your Plastic Part
This split sleeve sits inside a plastic hole. Its defining detail is the curved joint running down the wall: two shaped edges meet around a central rounded profile, rather than following a straight line.
For buyers replacing an existing insert, that detail matters. A sleeve with a similar diameter but a different seam is not automatically the same component. Match the end profile, wall section and seam contour as well as the overall size.
This is a split metal insert for a plastic component-not a sleeve made from plastic. The reference has an open bore, an unflanged cylindrical body and a curved longitudinal joint. It does not have the elongated sidewall features shown on our slotted sleeve design.
Read the Joint from Top to Bottom
At the upper rim, the split interrupts the circular edge. Further down, the seam changes direction around its rounded centre before continuing to the lower rim. These three areas should be visible when comparing a replacement sample: the entry at the top, the curved middle and the exit at the bottom.
The drawing should establish the joint contour and acceptable gap. The word "interlocking" describes the mating shape here; it is not a promise of a particular retention force or resistance to rotation. Those requirements need to be assessed in the intended assembly.
What the Installed Part Should Show
Once the sleeve is seated, the plastic surrounds its outside wall and the metal bore remains accessible from the hole opening. The sleeve's full exterior seam will normally be hidden by the surrounding plastic. A front-facing cutout in the housing is not part of the installation illustrated for this product.
Flush seating is one possible arrangement, not a universal requirement. If the sleeve must finish below the surface or project above it, specify that position relative to a defined face of the plastic part. This avoids treating sleeve length and seating depth as the same measurement.
Dimensions Belong to Two Parts, Not One
On the metal sleeve
Record outside diameter, bore diameter, axial length and wall thickness. Add the curved seam profile and any edge requirements. State whether the diameter refers to the loose sleeve or to the sleeve after fitting.
On the plastic component
Identify the receiving-hole diameter and usable depth, the plastic grade, and the face used to define the final sleeve position. Include the surrounding housing geometry when requesting a fit review.
A dimensional description might read "outside diameter × inside diameter × length, in mm," followed by the wall and seam requirements. Actual values must come from the approved part drawing; the pictured sample is not offered here under an assumed standard size.
Use the First Assembly to Answer Specific Questions
Before approving a replacement, agree what a satisfactory fitted part looks like and how it will be checked. A useful review records observations rather than relying on the statement that the insert "feels tight."
| Check point | Observation to record |
|---|---|
| Before insertion | Condition of the sleeve edges and receiving hole; correct component versions. |
| After seating | Position relative to the housing face, tilt, and visible marks, cracks or distortion in the plastic. |
| At the bore | The installed bore condition and clearance needed by the adjoining component. |
| For functional approval | Results against any agreed retention or movement criteria for the actual assembly. |
These are review points, not a specified pressing procedure. Interference, tooling, force limits and acceptance criteria depend on the approved assembly design.
Replacing a Sleeve Already in Production?
An unused loose sleeve and a view of the fitted component provide different information. The loose part reveals the seam and outer surface; the fitted view shows where the sleeve belongs and how far it is seated. Supplying both is more useful than a single distant photograph.
Identify which details must remain unchanged, especially if the receiving plastic part will not be redesigned. If an existing sleeve is damaged, include an undamaged reference where possible so that deformation is not mistaken for the intended geometry.
Have this curved-seam insert in your assembly?
Send a close view of the joint and the plastic hole it fits, together with the drawing or known dimensions. SHANGERS can review the requirement for a matching stock option or drawing-based manufacture.
Discuss your existing insert →Hot Tags: Custom Interlocking Seam Metal Bushing for Plastic Housings, ChinaCustom Interlocking Seam Metal Bushing for Plastic Housings manufacturers, suppliers, factory
