Kolík

Kolík is a Czech term for a pin or peg used to position, align, or fasten components. It can be made of wood, metal, or plastic and appears in a range of applications from carpentry and furniture making to mechanical engineering and electrical connectors. The concept encompasses several forms designed to transfer alignment, shear, or tensile forces as required by the assembly.

In woodworking and furniture construction, wooden dowels are a common type of kolík. They provide precise alignment and increased glue surface for joints. In metalworking and machinery, metal dowel pins, drive pins, or expansion pins are used to secure parts, locate components, or transmit loads. In electrical contexts, kolíky also refer to the pins of plugs and connectors that establish electrical contacts.

Common variants include solid wooden dowels, metal dowel pins (solid or hollow), drive pins, and spring or roll pins, among others. The choice of form depends on factors such as load direction and magnitude, required alignment accuracy, assembly method, and disassembly needs. Proper fit is important: holes are sized to match the nominal diameter of the kolík to achieve the desired clearance or interference fit. Tolerances and surface finish influence performance, particularly in high-precision or load-bearing applications.

Installation typically involves pressing or gluing wooden dowels, or pressing, pin-fit, or retaining methods for metal variants. Kolíky are valued for simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to align parts without complex fasteners.