CNC Turned Aluminum 6082-T6 Marine Cleat Stud 12mm Diameter Anodized Salt Spray Tested

This marine cleat stud is machined from Aluminum 6082-T6 (6082-T6) to ±0.02mm in the critical dimensions, then finished by Type III hard anodized 30μm. It is produced on CNC turning centres that are dedicated to small and medium volume precision work, so every dimension on the drawing is generated by the machine rather than by hand fitting. Typical users are engineers who have already been let down by a supplier that quoted a tolerance it could not hold, and who need the part to fit the first time without sorting or rework on the assembly line.

• Marine Grade Anodize: Type III 30μm coating survives 500 hours of salt spray, well beyond the seasonal exposure of a deck fitting
• Sacrificial Compatibility: 6082-T6 is chosen for predictable galvanic behaviour when paired with stainless fasteners
• Thread Sealed Against Crevice Attack: Threads are anodized and sealed so salt water cannot sit in the thread root
• Clamp Load Geometry: Stud shoulder is turned square to the thread within 0.02mm so the cleat base sits flat under load
• Weight Saving: Aluminium cuts deck hardware weight by roughly 65 percent compared with the equivalent bronze stud

The process route is fixed before metal is cut. Bar stock is verified against the purchase specification and the heat number is logged, then a first article is turned and measured in full. Only after the first article is signed off does the lot run. Critical features on this marine cleat stud are controlled to ±0.02mm with a process capability target of Cpk 1.33 or better, and the operator checks the feature at a defined frequency with the gauge stated on the control plan. Where the drawing calls for Type III hard anodized 30μm, the finishing step is carried out in house and the result is measured, not assumed. Sample parts go to the CMM for full dimensional verification, and the recorded results ship with the lot as a first article inspection report in PPAP level 3 format when a customer program requires it.

Questions are handled by engineers rather than by sales staff. Our team reviews each drawing for manufacturability, flags features that would drive cost without adding function, and proposes the tolerance band that actually matters for the assembly. That review is free and is returned within 24 hours together with a quotation. When a part fails in the field, we ask for the sample back, section it if needed and report what the failure mechanism was, because a supplier that cannot explain a failure cannot prevent the next one.

• Machines: 50+ CNC units including Swiss type lathes, 3, 4 and 5 axis machining centres and turn-mill centres from Citizen, Star, Doosan and Mazak.
• Quality lab: CMM, 2D vision measurement, roughness tester, hardness tester, salt spray chamber and spectral analyser for material verification.
• Team: 15+ mechanical engineers covering DFM review, process design, fixture design and failure analysis.
• Capacity: 500,000+ precision turned parts per month with stable output and on time delivery tracking.
• Quality system: ISO 9001:2015 certified, SGS audited, material traceability from mill heat to finished part.
• Export experience: parts shipped to 30+ countries across North America, Europe, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

Sailing yacht deck hardware, pontoon and dock cleats, boarding ladders, and marine rail fittings.

Parts are degreased, dried and packed so that the surface finish specified above arrives intact. Standard packing is VCI paper or individual PE bag, a partitioned foam tray for form features, and an export grade corrugated carton on a pallet, with the lot number and heat number marked on the outside. Parts are warranted against material and workmanship defects for 12 months from delivery. If a part is found outside the drawing, we replace it at our cost and we pay the return freight for the defective lot. Third party inspection by SGS, BV or TUV can be arranged before shipment at your request, and we work under NDA where drawings are confidential.

Q: Will aluminium studs corrode against stainless bolts? A: Dissimilar metals create a galvanic couple in seawater. We recommend isolating washers or a sealant and specify a zinc anodize base to slow the reaction. In permanent immersion a bronze or duplex stud is the safer choice.

Q: How thick is the anodize and does it affect the thread fit? A: Type III anodize at 30μm grows the surface approximately 15μm per side. Threads are cut with a pre-anodize allowance and checked after coating.

Q: Can you supply matching cleat bodies? A: Yes, we machine the stud and body as a set from the same alloy lot to keep the anodize colour matched.

Q: Is 500 hour salt spray a real test or a claim? A: It is an ASTM B117 neutral salt spray test on a sample of the production lot, and we send the test report with the shipment.

Q: How do you confirm the Aluminum 6082-T6 material before it is machined? A: Every bar is checked against its mill certificate with an optical emission spectrometer before it goes to a machine. If the chemistry does not match the grade, the bar is rejected and returned. The certificate for your lot is filed under the heat number and can be sent with the shipment or on request.

Q: What happens if a delivered part measures outside the ±0.02mm tolerance? A: Send the measurement and the lot number. We check the recorded values for that lot, replace the parts at our cost and cover the return freight. Because each critical feature is recorded during production, we can trace the deviation to a tool wear step, a fixture shift or a gauge issue and correct the process before the next lot runs.

Send a 2D drawing, a STEP file or a sample and you will have a manufacturability review and a firm quotation within 24 hours. Trial orders from a single piece are accepted, so the tolerance claim can be checked on your own assembly before a production order is placed.