Cam Lock Connectors — Structure, Function & Dimensions (Alternative to Minifix)

January 2, 2026

A cam lock connector is a two-part carcass connector for furniture construction that pulls panel materials together friction-locked at a 90-degree angle using a rotational movement. It consists of a cylindrical housing and a connecting bolt, creating an externally invisible, highly stable, and fully releasable joint at any time.

What Exactly Is a Cam Lock Connector?

In industrial manufacturing and professional joinery, these fittings are the standard for flat-pack, demountable construction of wardrobes, chests of drawers, and shelving units. As two-part furniture connectors, they replace permanent gluing and enable flat-pack transport of furniture components. The system is also well known under the brand name Minifix (developed by Hafele), which is frequently used across the industry as a generic term for this type of connecting fittings.

The mechanical principle is straightforward yet effective: the cam housing acts like a spiral ramp that pulls the head of the bolt progressively inwards as it turns. As a result, the edges of the chipboard or MDF are pressed seamlessly against the surface of the adjoining component.

Structure and Function

The system relies strictly on two main components that must be precisely matched to one another.

Cam housing: A cylindrical body made of die-cast zinc. It is recessed into a blind hole drilled into the face of the connecting shelf or panel. The top features a drive for tools (typically PZ or PH cross-recess).
Connecting bolt: A steel pin with a mushroom-shaped head. It is screwed into the side panel (carcass side). Depending on the version, the bolt features a wood thread (for direct screwing) or a metric thread (for pairing with an insert nut or prong tee nut).

Additionally, plastic cover caps are frequently used to conceal the metallic housing neatly inside the cabinet interior.

Dimensions, Standards and Typical Values

When working with board materials, absolute precision regarding drilling distances is essential. Choosing the right cam lock connectors depends primarily on the panel thickness.

Housing diameter: The standard drilling diameter for the cam housing is 15 mm. Mini versions measuring 12 mm are used less frequently.
Panel thickness: Standard housings are designed for material thicknesses of 15 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, or 19 mm. The drilling depth for the 15 mm hole varies accordingly (e.g. 12 mm to 14 mm deep).
Bolt length (drilling distance): The drilling distance defines the spacing from the panel edge to the centre of the cam housing. Typical standard grid dimensions are 24 mm or 34 mm.
Bolt drilling diameter: For bolts with a Euro thread, a pilot hole of 5 mm is usually drilled.
Grid standard: Modern furniture connectors of this type are fully compatible with System 32 (drilling line with 32 mm hole spacing).

Application and Installation

Correct installation of cam lock connectors requires accurate drilling. Typically, these holes are pre-drilled using CNC machinery in factory environments, but they can also be produced manually using a suitable drilling jig and a Forstner bit.

Screw in the bolt: Drive the connecting bolt perpendicularly into the carcass side until the thread shoulder sits flush against the panel surface.
Insert the housing: Press the cam housing into the 15 mm hole in the shelf. The open side of the housing must face towards the edge of the panel (observe the arrow marking).
Join components: Slide the panel onto the bolt so that the bolt head enters the housing cavity.
Tighten: Turn the housing clockwise by approximately 180° using a screwdriver. The connector pulls firmly tight.

Releasing Cam Lock Connectors

Releasing cam lock connectors is done with a simple half turn anticlockwise. As soon as the arrow on the housing points back towards the panel edge, the cam releases the bolt head and the furniture component can be pulled away.

Related Terms

Wooden dowels: Used in combination with cam locks purely for alignment and absorbing shear forces.
Carcass connectors: An umbrella term for all fittings used to join cabinet carcass components together.
Insert nut: A threaded metal insert screwed into soft board materials to provide metric bolts with a durable, strong hold.