pin
Enable an agent to recognise a physical fastening or locating pin, assess its fit and condition, and determine appropriate insertion, retention and removal actions.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
recalled by Codex without web access - no source was read
Researched by: Codex
Purpose and description
Enable an agent to recognise a physical fastening or locating pin, assess its fit and condition, and determine appropriate insertion, retention and removal actions.
A pin is a slender, usually rigid physical fastener or locating element inserted through material or into a hole to hold, align, secure or connect parts.
It can be Match a pin's geometry and retention method to its receiving material or feature.; Align receiving holes and insert the pin using a subtype-appropriate method.; Engage or inspect the feature that prevents withdrawal.; Check seating, exposed point, migration and unwanted joint play.; Release retention and extract the pin while supporting connected parts.; Identify a replacement whose fit and documented mechanical role match the application..
Distinguishing features
Its principal working element is a slender shaft whose insertion establishes the intended mechanical relationship.
Installation normally relies on piercing or entering a receiving feature rather than advancing a load-bearing screw thread.
A sewing needle is distinguished by its thread-carrying function; a fastening pin primarily holds or positions material.
Pointedness and a head are optional: blunt locating pins and headless pins must remain recognisable.
A shared name is insufficient for inclusion: a rolling pin works by rolling over material rather than by insertion.
Scope
+ Shaft, tip, head and retention geometry
+ Piercing, locating, fastening and pivoting functions
+ Fit between a pin and its receiving material or hole
+ Resistance to withdrawal and unintended release
+ Bending, wear, fracture and surface damage
- Safety-pin closure and point-guard mechanisms, owned by the narrower safety pin model
- Rolling pins and their food-processing function, despite the shared word
- Electrical connector contacts and their electrical performance
- Nails, screws, bolts and needles as neighbouring fastening or piercing kinds
- Digital map pins, personal identification numbers and other nonphysical senses
Characteristics
- Mechanical role
- piercing fastener | locating element | retaining element | pivot | unresolved Determines which fit, loading and removal questions apply.
- Shaft profile
- solid cylindrical | tapered | split | coiled | formed wire | other Influences insertion, compliance and retention.
- Working length
- mm, with endpoints defined Establishes engagement depth and possible exposed projection.
- Shaft cross-section
- diameter or width and thickness in mm, with measurement position Supports fit assessment and detection of taper or deformation.
- Tip form
- sharp point | rounded | flat | chamfered | other Distinguishes piercing from entry into a prepared hole and identifies point exposure.
- Retention arrangement
- material friction | interference fit | elastic compression | bent legs | separate retainer | integral stop | none | other Explains resistance to withdrawal and the required release procedure.
- Receiving feature
- identified material, hole, slot or aligned set of holes A pin's suitability depends on its actual counterpart.
- Material and finish
- documented material, coating and surface treatment, or unknown Supports assessment of stiffness, corrosion compatibility and surface damage.
- Installed condition
- loose | partly inserted | seated | retained | migrating | seized | broken Determines whether the pin fulfils its role and whether intervention is needed.
- Physical integrity
- straight or intentionally formed | unintentionally bent | worn | burred | corroded | cracked | unknown Supports decisions about continued use, removal and replacement.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.pin-4
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 5 bundles · 9 layers · 15 findings · 23 questions.
Pin identity and role Establish which physical sense of pin applies and what insertion accomplishes.
The undefined registry name could otherwise merge mechanically different objects solely because they share a name.
Physical sense
Identify the insertion-based object and its boundary with neighbouring kinds.
Insertion-based identity
Record the evidence that the object functions as a fastening, locating, retaining or pivot pin.
- What does inserting this object's shaft accomplish? definition
- What distinguishes it from a nail, needle, screw or an unrelated object called a pin? boundary
Joint role
Describe the relationship the pin establishes between receiving parts or materials.
Constrained and permitted motion
Record which movement the pin prevents and which movement it intentionally allows.
- Which parts or material regions does the pin hold, locate or retain? definition
- Should the installed connection prevent motion, allow pivoting or provide temporary positioning? definition
Shaft and receiver fit Describe the geometry that governs entry, engagement and fit.
A nominally similar pin can fail to seat, damage its receiver or leave excessive play.
Working geometry
Capture the shaft dimensions and end features relevant to insertion.
Shaft, tip and stop
Record the working shaft profile, entry end and any feature limiting insertion depth.
- What are the working length and cross-section, and where were they measured? measurement
- Does the tip pierce material or guide entry into a prepared hole, and what limits insertion depth? definition
Receiving interface
Relate the pin's dimensions and compliance to the actual receiving feature.
Engagement and clearance
Record receiver geometry, engagement and the intended fit without assuming a universal tolerance.
- What material thickness or hole dimensions must the pin engage? measurement
- What drawing, specification or application evidence establishes the required clearance, interference or compression? provenance
Retention and load path Explain how the inserted pin stays in place and carries the application's mechanical demands.
Resistance to withdrawal and resistance to joint loading are separate requirements that must both be assessed.
Withdrawal control
Identify the pin's retention mechanism and evidence that it is engaged.
Retainer engagement
Record frictional, elastic, formed or separate retention and its installed state.
- What prevents this pin from backing out in its intended orientation and use? definition
- How can an agent verify that the retention feature is fully engaged? action
Mechanical demand
Identify how forces act on the pin and its receiving surfaces.
Pin loading and support
Record relevant shear, bending, bearing or withdrawal demands and the evidence for suitability.
- Where is the pin supported, and which forces or relative movements act on its shaft? definition
- What documented rating, calculation or test supports use under these demands? provenance
Installation, condition and removal Support insertion, inspection and extraction decisions specific to the pin and its connection.
Bent shafts, exposed points, migrating retainers and loaded joints change what an agent may safely do.
Seating and damage
Assess whether the pin is seated and retains its required shape and surface condition.
Installed pin inspection
Record incomplete insertion, unintended projection, shaft deformation and wear at contact locations.
- Is the pin seated to the required depth, and is any sharp or interfering projection exposed? measurement
- What bending, burrs, corrosion, cracking or wear could impair retention, fit or extraction? definition
Release and reuse
Determine how to remove the pin and whether its retention method permits another installation.
Controlled extraction
Record joint support, retention release, extraction access and application-specific reuse limits.
- What load must be relieved or parts supported before releasing retention and extracting the pin? action
- What manufacturer or application instruction determines whether this pin may be reused after removal? provenance
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- No sense is recorded: this description assumes the fastening or locating object, excluding electrical contact pins, bowling pins and other named senses.
- The dimensional ranges apply only to ordinary straight sewing pins, not to the full family.
- Applicable standards, tolerances, materials and load limits depend on the specific pin subtype and require checking.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Kinds and varieties
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Straight sewing pin
- Safety pin
- Dowel pin
- Taper pin
- Spring pin
- Split pin
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Temporarily holding fabric layers together during sewing.
- Locating mating machine parts in a repeatable position.
- Retaining components against unintended separation.
- Providing a pivot in a mechanical joint.
- Attaching lightweight objects to a penetrable backing.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Overall length of ordinary straight sewing pins - Approximately 20-50 - mm
- Shaft diameter of ordinary straight sewing pins - Approximately 0.4-0.8 - mm
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Bending or buckling during insertion or loading.
- Shear fracture or fatigue failure in loaded mechanical joints.
- Loosening or migration when retention is inadequate.
- Corrosion, potentially weakening the pin or staining surrounding material.
- Puncture injuries from exposed points; swallowed pins can cause internal injury.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- The bent, two-legged retaining fastener commonly called a split pin in British usage is often called a cotter pin in American usage.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- safety pin - A subtype of fastening pin with a spring action and a closure that shields and retains the point.
- rolling pin - A tool used to flatten dough by rolling; the shared word does not make it a subtype of fastening or locating pin.
- needle - A sewing needle carries thread through material, whereas a sewing pin primarily holds material in position.
- nail - A nail is ordinarily driven into a substrate for retention; pins also include removable fabric fasteners and precision elements fitted into prepared holes.
- bolt - A bolt ordinarily uses an external screw thread for fastening; a pin's principal engagement is generally unthreaded.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of pin this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Does vr.tr.pin denote a pointed fastening pin specifically, or the broader family of fastening, locating, retaining and pivot pins?
- Which existing registry entries or world models already own dowel pins, spring pins, split pins and connector pins?
- Which inherited characteristics should the separately registered safety pin model reuse, and which closure details should remain exclusively there?
- Which authoritative subtype specifications establish dimensions, fit, materials, loading evidence and reuse restrictions?
- What evidence should distinguish pins from nails and needles where shaft geometry and installation methods overlap?