Cam Lock Connectors — Design & Function (Minifix-Compatible)

November 18, 2025

A cam lock connector is a two-part construction fitting consisting of a cam housing and a connecting bolt, enabling a sturdy, concealed, and fully demountable right-angled joint between furniture panels.

What exactly is a cam lock connector?

In modern carcase manufacturing, the cam lock connector is the absolute industry standard for fastening chipboard, MDF, or solid wood at a 90-degree angle. This system is widely known across the market under the brand name Minifix.

The mechanism relies on a rotating cam inside the circular housing. When this cam is turned with a screwdriver, it captures the head of the connecting bolt and pulls it in with significant force. This technique works like an invisible vice inside the wood, pulling the panel edges tightly together without any gaps. Because the components are not glued, this fitting is among the most essential furniture connectors for flat-pack and knock-down furniture constructions.

Design and components

A classic cam lock system always comprises at least two, and optionally three, components:

Cam housing: A round cylinder made of die-cast zinc, which is inserted into a drilled hole on the face of the panel. It contains the spiral curved track (the eccentric cam).
Connecting bolt (dowel): The steel counterpart, which is screwed into the edge or face of the second panel. It features either a wood thread (for direct screw insertion) or a metric thread (for use with a threaded insert).
Cover cap: An optional plastic cap that is pressed onto the housing to visually conceal the hardware fitting.

Dimensions and standard specifications

Accurate routing and drilling measurements are essential for professional installation. These components are generally designed around the System 32 standard (drilled hole lines spaced at 32 mm intervals).

Housing diameter: The standard diameter for a cam lock connector is 15 mm. For lighter components, 12 mm variants also exist.
Panel thickness: The housings are designed for specific material thicknesses, typically 15 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, or 19 mm. The drilling depth for the housing usually varies between 12.0 mm and 14.2 mm depending on panel thickness.
Bolt length: The centre-to-edge drilling distance (the distance between the centre of the housing and the panel edge) is standardly 24 mm or 34 mm.
Bolt hole diameter: The screw-in thread typically requires a drilled hole with a 5 mm diameter.

Assembly and disassembly

Precise installation requires exact drilling. In the workshop or on-site, a drilling jig is typically used to guarantee the exact distance of the 15 mm hole from the edge as well as the aligned 5 mm edge hole.

Screw the connecting bolt into the base panel until the collar sits flush.
Press the cam housing into the 15 mm hole of the mating panel. The arrow on the housing must point towards the edge (facing the bolt hole).
Join the panels together.
Using a screwdriver (typically PZ, PH, or hex key), turn the housing clockwise by approximately 180° until it reaches a firm stop.

To undo a cam lock connector, simply turn the housing anticlockwise. As soon as the indicator arrow points directly back towards the bolt, the lock is released and the panels can be pulled apart without tools.

Application & selection

When building carcases (wardrobes, chests of drawers, shelving units), this fitting is mostly used in combination with classic wooden dowels. While the wooden dowel absorbs vertical shear forces and precisely positions the panels, the cam lock provides the tensile clamping force and prevents the joint from pulling apart. When choosing suitable furniture connectors, it is critical to match the housing height to the panel thickness being used, as the bolt cannot otherwise be gripped centrally.