[ARC5] ARC-5 Slide Snap Latch

[Michael Hanz]

Though I never say never, no one I know of "makes them" any more, Bill.  
The closest I could find was the MS21332 series "fastener - snapslide", 
with dash numbers for the piece parts of the assembly: -11 for the 
"latch", -23 for the "latch guide", -35 for the rivet, etc. Having an 
old spec (it was updated to a NASM21332) doesn't mean they're off the 
shelf, though.  I can send you the pdf for the assembly if you want it - 
it's only 500kB.

Whenever I have needed a few, I grabbed some from scrapped command set 
covers.  (Everyone saves these, right?)  They are slightly different 
from the MS21332 in that the end of the latch guide is also a rivet.  
Drill out the retaining rivet for both the sliding (latch) and 
stationary (latch guide) portions of the assembly - the one with the 
.220"D head.  Discard this and fabricate a new one out of stainless 
steel.  That will leave you with the stationary portion of the slide 
still riveted in the hole for the post on the equipment.  Using a sharp 
end mill, carefully mill out about a _third_ of the rivet - try to 
remove _only_ the _flared_ portion of this second rivet.  Use a .225"D 
pin to drive out the stationary portion remaining - I made a stepped pin 
to keep the drive pin centered.  The material is only .012" thick, so 
it's fragile.  Then restore the finish with nickel plating if 
necessary.  I don't bother with trying to rivet the stationary portion 
back in the new hole - the remaining rim seems to hold it well enough.  
It's a bit of work to do all this, but if you are trying for 
originality, then I don't know of an alternative.

Good luck!

  - Mike  KC4TOS

On 5/13/2017 9:43 PM, William Ripley wrote:
>
> I am looking for someone that makes new miniature Slide Snap Latches, 
> just like the ones that are used to secure the access covers on the 
> command set radios.  All that I find now in the commercial marketplace 
> are too big.  Any ideas?
>
> Bill Ripley, KY5Q
>




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