Minifix Connectors Explained: The Cam Lock System & Compatible Furniture Fixings

March 27, 2026

A Minifix connector is a two-part cam lock fitting for furniture construction, consisting of a round cam housing and a matching connecting bolt. The system creates a concealed, high-strength, and fully demountable 90-degree joint between wood-based panels, typically adhering to the standardised System 32.

What Exactly Is the Cam Lock System?

The fitting operates on the principle of eccentric camming. A dowel-style connecting bolt engages directly into the cam housing. When the round housing is rotated using a screwdriver (typically with a PZ or TX drive), an internal spiral curved track draws the bolt in tightly. This pulls the panel edges firmly against one another. These cabinet connectors are the industry standard in commercial furniture manufacturing, enabling precise, rapid assembly without the need for adhesive. Mechanically, the system functions like a concealed lock, where the connecting bolt is securely clamped with a simple half-turn.

Types and Variations

The system consists of several components that vary according to panel thickness and load-bearing requirements.

Cam housing: The actual tensioning mechanism recessed into the face of the panel. Commonly manufactured from die-cast zinc or plastic.
Connecting bolt: The connecting pin with a specialised head that engages with the housing. It features either a metric thread (for threaded inserts) or a direct Euro thread (for wood).
Double-ended bolt: This variant is used to connect two adjoining shelves at the exact same height across a shared central partition panel.
Articulated bolt: Enables angled joints beyond the standard 90 degrees.

In addition to classic Minifix fittings, specialised furniture connectors exist for alternative load requirements. For example, heavy-duty worktop connectors for kitchen units operate on a similar tensioning principle, but are significantly larger in scale to withstand substantially higher loads.

Dimensions, Standards, and Typical Values

The dimensioning of these fittings strictly follows the industrial System 32 (drilling rows spaced at 32 mm intervals). When planning and drilling, the following values are essential:

Housing drilling diameter: Standard 15 mm. Specialised variants measuring 12 mm exist for very thin panels.
Housing drilling depth: Dependent on board thickness. For a 16 mm thick chipboard panel, the drilling depth is typically 12 mm; for a 19 mm panel, it is around 14 mm. The housing must not break through the outer surface.
Bolt drilling diameter: Typically 5 mm for direct wood threads.
Drilling distance: The backset distance from the panel edge to the centre of the 15 mm hole is precisely 24 mm or 34 mm for standard housings.

Application and Selection

When selecting the appropriate cam connectors, panel thickness is the deciding factor. The housing must be precisely matched to the board thickness (e.g., 16 mm, 19 mm, or 22 mm); otherwise, the point of tension will not sit centrally, resulting in an unstable joint.

For professional carcass assembly, cam locks are always installed in combination with classic wooden fluted dowels (typically 8 mm in diameter). The wooden dowel absorbs the shear forces and guarantees the exact alignment of the components, whilst the cam fitting provides the clamping tension. For complex constructions or modular units, matching connectors and brackets designed for this standardised drilling pattern can be combined flexibly.