Mechanical devices and products are made of different components that come together after being engineered. For these components to be connected seamlessly, we need the right engineering fasteners.
Today, fasteners come in different types and categories. And for product manufacturers or engineers, understanding the available options will be important. Let’s take a look at what we have:
Categories of Fasteners
Before we get into the major types of fasteners, it’s important to understand the categories of these tools that we have. On this note, we have two major breakdowns – permanent fasteners and non-permanent fasteners.
Permanent Fasteners
As the name suggests, these are engineering fasteners that are built to offer a more solid, lasting connection between engineering components. This means that once you install them, you won’t be able to take them out without destroying either them or the materials that they’re joining – or both.
Permanent fasteners include things like rivets, adhesives, staples, and welding. These fasteners are known for their impressive strength and reliability, while also being lighter. But, some might find the difficulty in removing them to be inconvenient.
Non-Permanent Fasteners
Then, we have the non-permanent fasteners, which are built to be assembled and taken out without causing any material damage. These include things like screws, bolts, pins, and clips, and as you can imagine, the ease of assembly and disassembly – coupled with their reusable nature – makes them ideal.
But, you also need to be careful with non-permanent fasteners as they could come loose over time due to vibrations.
Common Types of Fasteners and Their Uses
Now, let’s dive into the main topic, which is the different types of fasteners available. Generally, we’ll be looking at fastener types that have been mentioned already, but with a view of helping you to better understand how they work:
Screws – The Primary Fastener Type
When you think about engineering fasteners, screws are probably what come to mind first. They have cylindrical shapes, pairing that with a helical thread that makes the actual fastening possible.
Screws, as we all know, are used for joining just about anything. However, they’re mostly common in furniture and construction. You have different types as well, ranging from machine screws to wood screws, so you want to know what option works best for you before selecting.
Bolts – Quick Fasteners For Projects
Next, we have bolts – the cylindrical products with external threading that you pair with nuts. Bolts mostly work for heavy-duty connections, especially in structural projects. And with types ranging from carriage bolts to anchor bolts, you’re easily spoilt for choice here.
Nuts – The Perfect PArtners For Bolts
As we said, nuts work hand in hand with bolts. They’re small and hexagonal, ensuring that you can easily secure two or more components together.
You have different nut types as well, so make sure that your chosen option is compatible with the bolt you’re working with.
Washers – Load-Bearing Fasteners In Versatile Applications
Washers have a characteristically flat or concave disc, paired with a hole straight in the center. They mostly help to distribute load for screws and bolts, while helping to prevent loosening and surface damage.
Rivets – Strong Fastening For Heavy-Duty Use
With their smooth cylindrical shaft and one-ended head position, rivets hold a lot of load. If you need fasteners for building projects, they are exactly what you want – although they also work in aeronautics and automotive frames.
Pins – Versatile Material Fasters
A pin comes with a straight or mildly bent rod frame. You can find them made with plastic or metal, and they serve as temporary fasteners in hinges and mechanical applications.
Clips – Temporary Fastening In Quick Time
Speed is where clips perform best. They are small, springy components that have the characteristic U-shape, and they help offer quick, temporary fastening – particularly in electronic or automotive systems.
Staples – Best For Light Binding
A U-shaped metal fastener with very sharp ends, a staple helps to bind light materials like thin wood or even paper. As we know, staples are mostly used in packaging and simple upholstery operations.
Specialized Fasteners
Besides the traditional fasteners that we have, there are additional specialized options available that manufacturers can capitalize on. These fasteners are designed for specific applications, where traditional options can’t operate. At the same time, their engineering is built particularly to meet these requirements.
A few notable options include the following:
Threaded Inserts
First, we have threaded inserts, which come with cylindrical sleeves and other internal threads. They help to reinforce threads in materials like aluminum or wood, and they are especially common in electronics and furniture.
Captive Fasteners
These are basically nuts and screws. However, the difference is that they maintain their attachment to the fastened components, even after you cut them loose.
With captive fasteners, you’re able to prevent any part loss during disassembly. They’re mostly used in fields like electronics and aerospace, and they’re quite reliable across the board.
Self-Clinching Fasteners
The self-clinching fasteners are hexagonal or cylindrical, offering a more serrated or knurled base. You can embed them into sheet metal to provide secure components, especially in enclosures and metal casings of different kinds.
Snap Fasteners
These are two-part fasteners that click together – usually with a top that looks like a button. They are great for speed, offering much quicker assembly and disassembly – albeit in lightweight structures alone.
Torque-Resistant Fasteners
As the name suggests, these fasteners are built with special shapes or heads that allow them to easily resist any form of over-tightening or tampering. They’re mostly available for security applications, such as anti-theft systems and such.
Nutserts
Rivet nuts – or nutserts, as they’re usually called – look very similar to rivets. However, they differ in the fact that they come with internal threading. Their job is to offer threaded connections in thin materials, and they come with uses in industries such as aerospace and furniture making.
Magnetic Fasteners
Basically, these are magnetic plates or discs that are combined with other fastening elements. They offer quick, reversible fastening, with applications such as wearables and electronics.
Hook-And-Loop Fasteners
Here, you have fasteners with two sides – one side has small hooks, while the other comes with softer loops. These fasteners are light and flexible, and they work in fields such as textile manufacturing and medical device development.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Fasteners
Now that we understand the different types of fasteners, it’s important to understand how to make a decision when the time comes.A trusted fastener manufacturer can also provide guidance on choosing the right materials and coatings for your application. Here are a few things to consider:
What Are Your Application Requirements?
First, you need to be clear about your load capacity. Then, decide whether you want a temporary or permanent connection. Finally, look into if the fastener will be exposed to outdoor elements, chemicals, or even high temperatures.
What Material Do You Prefer?
Fasteners come in different materials. Steel is known for being strong and versatile, while aluminum is light and corrosion-resistant. Brass is decorative and corrosion-resistant, while titanium offers optimal strength and is also light.
What Are The Joined Components Made Of?
Ensuring compatibility between the fastener and the joined materials will be important. Your fastener shouldn’t corrode or damage the components, but remember that softer materials might need specialized fasteners.
How Strong Do You Need It To Be?
When it comes to strength, there are different options to consider. There is tensile strength, which is the fastener’s ability to resist pulling forces. Shear strength describes resistance to sliding between two parts, while you have to also consider the appropriate grade for things like screws and bolts.
Think Of Aesthetics Too
Manuafcturing isn’t just about building things that work – there’s also an aesthetic component to it. With that in mind, you want a finish that complements the project – as well as the right color, which can either be gotten naturally or through painting.
Consider The Environmental Impact
With production processes going green nowadays, a lot of emphasis is placed on environmental conservation as well. You want fasteners that are made from recyclable materials, and we should also point out that lightweight fasteners tend to cut down on energy consumption in the long run.
Conclusion
Fasteners are important in engineering operations. And with the different types available, you’re defintely spoilt for choice.
To learn more about these components, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at KDM Fabrication.