--- title: "What Are Cam Latches Used For?" description: "Cam Latches (Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches)) are used for closing and, where the latch draws, sealing an enclosure door against its gasket." url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/cam-latches/ source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners --- # What Are Cam Latches Used For? Panel Latches & Catches · Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches) · Application guide Typical applications, the industries that specify cam latches, and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint. Cam Latches are used for closing and, where the latch draws, sealing an enclosure door against its gasket. They are manufactured to Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches), and selection is driven by the size designation, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment. - **Primary duty:** Closing and, where the latch draws, sealing an enclosure door against its gasket - **Governing standard:** Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches) - **Category:** Panel Latches & Catches Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation. ![What Are Cam Latches Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Southco-E5-Cam-Latches.webp) Cam Latches are used primarily for closing and, where the latch draws, sealing an enclosure door against its gasket. This page lists the industries and assemblies where they are specified, the selection criteria that matter for each application, installation practice, and the cases where a different fastener type is the correct choice. Parts are supplied to Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches). ## Typical Applications for Cam Latches The most common settings where these are specified: - **General machine building:** fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment. - **Maintenance & repair (MRO):** a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched. - **Fabrication & metalwork:** bench and on-site assembly of steel frames, enclosures and weldments. 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Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers. ## Where Cam Latches Are Not the Right Choice Match the fastener to the load, environment and whether the joint must be reopened; the wrong class or style is the usual cause of joint failure. Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing ## Need a cam latches outside the standard range? The geometry is whatever the drawing says. A machined component has no standard to depart from, so the drawing and the tolerance scheme are the whole specification. Made by stamping or punching. Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval. [Custom panel latch manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/latches/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/latches/#rfq) ## Technical Drawing Dimensioned line drawing of key-operated Cam Latches to Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches). Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected. - **Selected by:** panel cutout and grip range - **Cam:** straight or offset cam - **Sealing:** light, by gasket ## Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches)) | Operation | Selected by | Cam | Sealing | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | key-operated | panel cutout and grip range | straight or offset cam | light, by gasket | | tool-operated (square or triangle) | panel cutout and grip range | straight or offset cam | light, by gasket | | knob or wing operated | panel cutout and grip range | straight or offset cam | light, by gasket | Inside the plant ## Manufactured in our own plant This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided. 1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift. 2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g. 3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1. 4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What are Cam Latches used for? Closing and, where the latch draws, sealing an enclosure door against its gasket. They are supplied to Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches). ### Which industries use Cam Latches? They are commonly specified in general machine building, maintenance & repair (mro) and fabrication & metalwork, among other sectors. ### How do I choose the right size of Cam Latches? Match the size to the mating part using the dimension table on this page. ### Are Cam Latches made to a recognized standard? Yes — they are manufactured to Trade series (quarter-turn cam latches), so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order. ### Can I get a quote for Cam Latches in the size and material I need? Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time. ## Related Pages Product page: [Cam Latches — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/cam-latches/) ### Cam Latches Specification Guides ### Related Fastener Applications