Fasteners are used in all industries and applications. They are crucial to virtually every product you see today.
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When selecting fasteners for industry application, it’s important that you select the right fasteners for your needs. That means not choosing a specific size and type, but also choosing the right material, coating and more.
Fasteners may be the smallest component of your industrial product, but they’re among the most critical. It’s essential that you choose a fastener that meets the specific needs of your product and how it will be used.
Choosing the wrong fastener can result in a product that doesn’t hold up over time or under stress. The wrong fastener can also lead to expensive last-minute product redesigns or significantly increase your product cost.
As small as they may be, the fasteners you choose need to be of the same or better quality than the product they support. It’s not just about picking the lowest-cost fasteners – it’s about choosing the most appropriate fasteners to ensure your product’s reliability and lasting success.
When you’re selecting fasteners for your industrial applications, consider these seven questions before you make your choice.
The first thing to consider is how the fastener and the product itself will be used. For example, if the fastener is regularly opened and closed, a durable solid metal fastener makes sense. If a fastener is seldom if ever opened, a lower-priced alternative, such as plastic, might be acceptable.
Environmental factors affect what type of fastener your product might need. Fasteners used indoors in undemanding conditions can be less robust than those used outdoors or in a more extreme environment. Consider also specific environmental demands. For example, exposure to saltwater can cause 18-8 grade (18% chromium, 8% nickel) stainless steel fasteners to corrode and lose integrity. If saltwater is a key environmental factor, fasteners made from 316 grade stainless steel will be less susceptible to rusting.
As you’re aware, there are many types of fasteners available – bolts, screws, nuts, washers, rivets, anchors, inserts, rods, clips, pins, and more – and many variations within each fastener type. For example, you can choose from several different types of screw heads, including flat, oval, round, pan, hex, hex washer, truss, button, and socket cap. There are an equally diverse number of nut types, including hex, cap, acorn, jam, flange, square, tee, torque lock, K-lock, slotted, coupling, and castle.
Each type of fastener has its own inherent strengths, weaknesses and applications, making certain types of fasteners better choices in specific situations. You need to choose the right type of fastener for your specific product needs – how the fastener is being used, what materials it will be fastening, how the fastener fits within the overall product design, and more. You can choose from off-the-shelf fasteners or design your own custom fastener for a specific product need. (Off-the-shelf fasteners are less expensive and more readily available, of course, while custom fasteners may be the only way to meet unique product specifications.)
When determining a fastener type, familiarize yourself with the ASTM fastener standards. You can often use these standards to select the type of fastener you need.
Knowing how and where the fastener will be used should also help you determine the right material for your fasteners. The material you choose affects not just cost, but also the strength and corrosion resistance of the fastener.
You can choose from among these common materials:
Note that there are different grades within each material type. Choose the grade most suited for your usage and environment needs.
Coatings are often added to fasteners to increase corrosion resistance. In some cases, though, coatings are purely decorative.
The most common fastener coatings include:
More chemically sophisticated coatings may also be available for specific applications, including:
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Bolt Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
How and where the fastener is used also factors into the fastener size. Heavier-duty applications may require larger fasteners, while tighter designs may dictate smaller ones.
Most fastener types come in a variety of industry standard sizes. For example, metric bolts are sized from M5 to M30, with hole sizes from 5.5mm to 32mm.
Browse all types of fasteners at the International Fastener Expo. IFE is the largest specialty fastener show for fasteners and other industrial products in North America, with more than 650 exhibitors from around the world. This year’s show is at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and runs from September 21-23.
Bolts, crucial in almost all mechanical and structural systems, are evolving due to the demands of industry for higher performance, efficiency, precision, and sustainability. Modern industry requirements for bolts are being addressed through innovations in bolt manufacturing which are driven by new advancements in manufacturing technologies, materials, and digitalization.
The quality and accuracy that bolts directly impact the durability, safety, and performance of the equipment and structures they join. A well-constructed bolt will conform to specific standards of durability as well as corrosion resistance and perform well in harsh conditions. Furthermore efficient manufacturing processes reduce costs for production while also ensuring reliability and reducing the chance of failure. A high-quality bolt manufacturing process is essential in ensuring the safety and integrity of infrastructure and systems that are critical to the operation.
This graph illustrates the main techniques, advantages and drawbacks of the traditional manufacturing techniques for bolts that have been extensively employed in various industries.
In recent times, the materials used to manufacture bolts have changed to accommodate increasingly demanding uses. Traditional carbon steel bolts and stainless steel bolts are supplemented by high-performance alloys as well as composite materials that offer improved resistance to wear, corrosion and extreme temperatures.
Here is a chart summarizing key advanced materials in bolt manufacturing , their properties benefits and common applications.
A major and revolutionary developments in the manufacturing of bolts is the application technology known as additive manufacturing (3D printing). This technology allows for more design flexibility, speedier prototyping and manufacturing processes.
The application of robotics and automation in bolt manufacturing has enhanced productivity and quality. Sorting, assembly, and inspection are done by automated systems with little human intervention, overall improvement in accuracy, and improved efficiency.
As companies grow more environmentally aware, there is an emphasis on sustainable ways of manufacturing bolts. From recycling materials to saving energy, manufacturers are trying to play their green parts.
The idea of “smart” bolts means that bolts equipped with sensors and communication capabilities, which is growing in popularity. They’re integrated with IoT (Internet of Things) systems to give live data about their performance.
New coatings, surface treatment and other innovations are used on bolts to increase their resistance to corrosion, wear and environmental influences. These coatings extend the life and efficiency of bolts even in difficult conditions.
Here is a chart outlines various bolt coating types , their properties as well as their benefits:
With additive manufacturing, automation manufacturing, and robotics technology, bolt manufacturers can now significantly reduce production time. Operations that took weeks or days to complete are now completed in hours or minutes. This improved efficiency gives manufacturers an opportunity to react faster to market demand, making them competitive in markets where speed-to-market is an essential consideration.
The latest innovations in bolt manufacturing provide better performance, efficiency and long-term sustainability. In addition to advanced components, automated 3D printing, automation, and advanced technologies, these advancements transform the process of making bolts and used in various industries.
Are you interested in learning more about metal stamping parts manufacturers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!