STAINLESS STEEL DOWEL PINS ISO 2338A

Dowel Pins – ISO 2338A – FAQs

What is an ISO 2338A dowel pin?

An ISO 2338A dowel pin is a precision cylindrical locating pin manufactured to the ISO 2338 standard, Form A. These pins are used for accurate alignment and positioning of components in mechanical assemblies.

Form A dowel pins are plain cylindrical pins without internal thread, designed to be pressed into a locating hole to provide repeatable positioning.

What does “Form A” mean in ISO 2338A?

ISO 2338 defines parallel dowel pins in different forms.
Form A refers to dowel pins that are:

  • Cylindrical and parallel
  • Not threaded
  • Typically supplied with a plain or lightly chamfered end to assist insertion

They are intended for permanent or semi‑permanent location, rather than frequent removal.

What are ISO 2338A dowel pins used for?

ISO 2338A dowel pins are commonly used:

  • To accurately locate components relative to one another
  • In tooling, jigs, fixtures, and mechanical assemblies
  • Where repeatable alignment is required during assembly or reassembly
  • To resist shear forces, rather than tensile loads

They are not intended to act as load‑bearing fasteners.

How are ISO 2338A dowel pins installed?

These dowel pins are typically press‑fitted into a reamed hole in one of the mating components. The corresponding part then locates over the exposed section of the pin.

Correct hole tolerance and alignment are essential to ensure proper fit and function.

What materials are available?

ISO 2338A dowel pins are commonly supplied in:

  • Stainless steel

Stainless steel provides good corrosion resistance while maintaining the dimensional accuracy required for locating applications.

What sizes are available?

ISO 2338A dowel pins are available in a wide range of metric diameters and lengths, as defined by the ISO 2338 standard. Sizes are specified by:

  • Pin diameter
  • Nominal length

Availability varies by size.

Are ISO 2338A dowel pins hardened?

ISO 2338A dowel pins are supplied in unhardened or work‑hardened stainless steel, depending on material specification. They are intended primarily for location and alignment, not for applications requiring hardened wear surfaces.

How do ISO 2338A dowel pins differ from ground or hardened dowel pins?

  • ISO 2338A dowel pins are intended for general locating applications.
  • Hardened or ground dowel pins (such as ISO 8734 / DIN 6325) are used where higher wear resistance or tighter tolerances are required.

Selecting the correct pin depends on the application’s accuracy, load, and longevity requirements.

How do I choose the correct ISO 2338A dowel pin?

When selecting an ISO 2338A dowel pin, consider:

  • Required pin diameter based on the locating hole
  • Pin length to provide sufficient engagement
  • Material suitability, particularly corrosion resistance
  • Whether a press fit or sliding fit is required in each mating component