A solid cylindrical pin, usually made of steel or wood, used to precisely align two mating parts before they are bolted or glued together. In machining and assembly, dowel pins ensure that heavy fixtures or machine casings line up perfectly every time they are reassembled. They bear shear loads and prevent lateral shifting between joined parts.
Heard on the job
Tap the dowel into the engine block before you try to lower the cylinder head onto it.
Also heard as
- dowel pin