Fastening and Joining Reference Materials

Description: We are a company known for our innovation for the past 75 years and counting. With more than 3,300 parts offered in our standard catalog, and the ability to custom design parts to fit specific ...

Description: This FAQ article answers some of the most commonly asked questions about our popular SLIC Pins. ...

Description: Is a rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive right for your die-cut part? Let's learn the basics with help from the experts at Avery Dennison. ...

Description: Consumer demand for interconnected, high performing devices, cars, and home appliances that are also sleek, lightweight, and quiet continues to grow worldwide. In order to keep up with consumer ...

Description: You must know how to calculate torque for tightening bolts to ensure that your application is functional and safe. Errors in torque calculation can result in expensive failure, including the time and ...

Description: The best possible mechanism to prevent leaks due to pressure, and the infiltration or egression of liquids and gasses, is a fastener with an O-ring and a groove ...

Description: Sealing fasteners are highly specialized fasteners that include sealing screws, sealing nuts, sealing bolts and sealing washers. Unlike ordinary fasteners, sealing fasteners are configured with a ...

Description: ZAGO's fasteners are perfectly suited to meet the requirements of NEMA enclosures as well as the standards of the IEC ...

Description: Manufacturers of subsea products have learned that using ordinary fasteners on robotics and sophisticated machinery intended for the ocean depths is hazardous. ...

Description: Toyokawa Engineering manufactures testing equipment for automotive parts and they use IMAO's Quarter Turn Clamps on the fixtures in their equipment. ...

Description: Smalley Spirolox Retaining Rings are the trusted industry solution because of their unique configuration, reliability, and convenience across thousands of applications. While we have five standard ...

Description: 1. Why are there so many different types of retaining and constant section (snap) rings? 2. What type of retaining ring should I use for my application? This blog covers the main types of retaining ...

Description: Smalley remains open and operational at all of our global facilities. Smalley continues to urgently provide the products and engineering expertise needed to support our current and new customers, ...

Description: Nails, screws, nuts, bolts, pins- the list goes on. What do these all have in common? They hold things together. When you staple a piece of paper or hang a painting on a wall, you're joining two ...

Description: Everyday fasteners and fasteners are being tightened and torqued into a wide range of manufactured products, like electronics, medical devices, automobiles, air crafts and more. One item that can ...

Description: These general guidelines are to help identify potential pitfalls relating to the tightening of bolted joints. ...

Description: Joint relaxation occurs to some extent in all fastened joints. There are techniques that can be used to help resolve any "joint relaxation" from incurring during fastening process. ...

Description: A long-time customer of Pivot Point approached us with a concept for a drive rod in a condiment dispenser, but needed a quick-release mechanism at the tip. Learn more about the application, the ...

Description: At present, the PEM SMTSO product line is used for providing mechanical fastening to Printed Circuit Boards (PCB). The most important parameter in this fastening system is torque-out attainability, ...

Description: Drills, saws, sanders, and grinders - what do all of these power tools have in common? Retaining rings keep them from falling apart. A retaining ring's function is to hold components or assemblies in ...

Description: Pivot Point's latest case study focuses on the design process behind a steel lanyard - used to tether scupper plugs to marine vessels. ...

Description: What are some advantages of using edgewinding? ...

Description: An extensive reference for socket cap screws. We break down the specifics, terminology, lengths, nominal sizes, dimensions, and more that will help aid in selecting the right part for your ...

Description: Fasteners are the nuts, bolts, screws, and other small components that keep machinery and components together in working order. Many fasteners work through the effective use of threads (left-hand ...

Description: Selecting the proper fastener material and finish can make or break a project-especially those with intended applications underwater or in harsh environments. With many options available, many ...

Description: Corrosion, a natural phenomenon that causes the degradation of metals, results in hundreds of billions of dollars in maintenance and repair costs every year. Corrosion can affect any metal including ...

Description: Coating requirements regarding PEM materials and manufacturing ...

Description: Ultra-fine cleaning to comply with the highest levels of cleanliness requirements in the automotive industry. Components are now becoming smaller and more compact, this harbours the risk of tiny ...

Description: The most important point relative to this topic, and a matter which is frequently overlooked, is the fact that self-clinching fasteners are not inherently self-centering in a mounting hole into which ...

Description: PEM® self-clinching standoffs install with a squeeze in properly sized round mounting holes and become permanently mounted in the thin sheet. These standoffs enable components to be stacked or ...

Description: In our literature we simply call out our zinc plating as zinc plated 5?m, colorless, plus sealant/ lubricant. Further, but not generally noted is that this plating meets appearance requirements as ...

Description: Installation forces published in PennEngineering catalogs for self-clinching and broaching fasteners are always shown in units of force. Values are in pounds for unified parts and in KiloNewtons for ...

Description: The microPEM® line of fasteners from PennEngineering introduces some new thread designations which may not be familiar to many users. This technical sheet will present the differences between ...

Description: Many years of experience with customer concerns related to threads indicates there is value in clarifying three main areas of thread inspection criteria. These three areas are: 1. The proper use of NO ...

Description: Steel and aluminum panels in assemblies often will undergo surface finishing for reasons ranging from cosmetics to performance, while stainless steel panels may require passivation. For any assembly ...

Description: A self-clinching fastener's performance can be divided into two major types. ...

Description: Properly installed self-clinching fasteners are designed to provide permanent load bearing threads in thin metal sheets. When installed the fasteners become an integral part of the host panel and will ...

Description: All PennEngineering catalog bulletins list a standard finish and some also list optional finishes. There are also a wide variety of special finishes available to meet customer requirements when the ...

Description: Engineers, designers, and manufacturers often choose clinch fasteners to eliminate the need for loose hardware or to provide a method to include threads in thin sheets. Self-clinching fasteners are ...

Description: Case Study: Solving Spring and Fastener Problems ...

Description: Glossary of Terms ...

Description: Bolts are a common fastener used to connect two or more components in an assembly. Although bolts can be used as an inexpensive method of assembly, Smalley Spirolox® Retaining Rings can be used ...

Description: Electroplating is the process of adding a thin layer of metal to a workpiece of a different base metal. It is common for jewelry, as it is an inexpensive means to improve visual beauty by adding a ...

Description: When Pivot Point was presented with a challenging fastening application for hospital beds, our inventive engineers got to work! The manufacturer needed a secure but convenient fastening system to ...

Description: In this challenge, our solution actually increased both the safety of the end product, as well as the ease and speed of assembly, in order to surpass customer expectations. ...

Description: Kenyon Grills needed a solution to quickly remove/re-attach grill lids. The solution had to be easy to clean, rust resistant, heat resistant, low-profile and a single-piece design with no components ...

Description: Audi GmbH approached Weber Screwdriving Systems Inc. with an application to fasten aluminum and steel together without the use of welding, or riveting ...

Description: This White Paper details the specific design differences between both Austenitic Stainless Steel Slotted Spring Pins and Coiled Spring Pins and explains which Spring Pin is best for dynamic loading. ...

Description: Disc Springs are conically shaped washers designed to provide predictable and repeatable results. This paper focuses on the use of Disc Springs and how to estimate fatigue life in dynamic situations. ...

Description: 5 Tips for getting the most out of your pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) backing on rubber materials. ...

Description: High-strength or heat-treated fasteners are often required to handle the tensile, shear or combination loads on the bolted joints in demanding applications. Many demanding applications require ...

Description: Gears, pulleys, couplings, shaft extenders, shaft reducers, flexible shafts and shaft accessories are critical rotating and power transmission components. They are found in assemblies for applications ...

Description: Coil flow tubing is often used in oil well testing and is a cost- and time-effective way to provide well intervention solutions. Operations such as cleanout and perforating the wellbore (the hole that ...

Description: There are a variety of ways to create the threads of a fastener, but the most common by far are the cutting and rolling methods. ...

Description: Introduction to Cold Heading Cold heading is a cold forming process that essentially involves applying force with a punch to the end of a metal blank contained in a die. The force must exceed the ...

Description: In any assembled component there are three ways to reduce the overall cost of the assembly: reduce the cost of the individual components, reduce component preparation cost, and reduce the cost to ...

Description: White paper focusing on step-by-step design specifics of a coiled pin and everyday uses. ...

Description: Easily recognized by its unique 2¼ coil cross section, Coiled Pins are retained by radial tension when installed into the host component, and they are the only pins with uniform strength and ...

Description: To achieve optimal alignment when using Coiled Pins, two primary design elements must be adhered to: 1) The hole diameters in the host and mating component must be correctly sized to achieve the ...

Description: This White Paper provides the fundamental guidelines for determining the optimum balance between strength and flexibility of the Coiled Spring Pin that will result in the prolonged net life of the ...

Description: This paper compares and contrasts the use of various types of spring pins used in soft host materials, and provides valuable information regarding the optimum solution for plastic assemblies. ...

Description: This White Paper quantifies the effects that clearance between the shear plane has on the strength of a pinned joint. ...

Description: Discussing the challenges of paraffin petroleum grout with existing rubber connector sleeve, action taken, and example of company reaching out to Aero Rubber Company for help in regards to this issue. ...

Description: INSTALLATION CAPTIVE PANEL RETAINERS ...

Description: Rumco Fastener is a leader in the manufacture of cold headed products and specializes in a variety of SEMS and custom fastener products. Imagine that your company has ordered screws from an overseas ...

Description: Hi-Performance Fastening Systems manufactures specialty and proprietary cold-headed fasteners serving the distribution, heavy truck, tiered automotive, agriculture, lawn and garden, appliance, ...

Description: The SLIC Pin applications guide provides practical examples where SLIC Pin™ technology has been successful in reducing labor, solving fastening challenges, or improving function in an ...

Description: Hi-Performance Fastening Systems manufactures specialty and proprietary cold-headed fasteners serving the distribution, heavy truck, tiered automotive, agriculture, lawn and garden, appliance, ...

Description: USA Fastener Group, Inc. (USAFG), serves the industrial and fastener industries with over 400 years of combined sales experience, stable financial backing and a commitment toward continued growth. ...

Description: Waterproof Seam Sealing Tape raises the bar in waterproof protection. Whether you're creating outerwear, tents, or other products that need a watertight finish, waterproofing your seams with seam ...

Description: Fasteners are a tool that quietly dominate our lives. Sometimes simple and sometimes complex, these unsung heroes make our world go round, and have been doing so for thousands of years. If you take a ...

Description: Providing an ideal bonding solution for fabrics, heat seal tapes are offering manufacturers advantages such as high bonding strength, flexibility, durability, and solvent resistance. ...

Description: Automobile assemblies today utilize a wide variety of adhesive materials in numerous applications: seats and linings, headers, dashboards, exterior emblems, and more. The effort to lower vehicle ...

Description: Thermoplastic, Heat Seal and Hot Melt Adhesives are redefining cut and sew solutions for the textile industry. This new technology replaces the need for stitching in a wide range of garments and soft ...

Description: Welcome back to the Smalley Ask the Expert Blog, where our engineers answer commonly asked retaining ring and wave spring questions. This week, our engineers answer questions about snap ring and ...

Description: A threaded insert is a threaded metal cylinder that is inserted into an existing hole to provide a threaded pathway for a fastener such as a screw or bolt ...

Description: In the process industries, such as oil, gas, and petrochemicals, the selection of the right fastener in the right application can be critical. The bolts used to connect companion flanges, for example, ...

Description: If you have never heard of edgewound fasteners or are not familiar with the edgewinding process, you might want to keep reading. This little known but very interesting process is not even a topic ...

Description: How to properly specify weld studs for steelwise use with the drawn arc stud welding process in structural applications. ...

Description: A comprehensive load calculation that accounts for multiple force components. Included in these components are: weight of the sliding mechanism (vertical), weight of the sliding mechanism multiplied ...

Description: A load that is parallel to the centerline of the screw shaft and equally distributed around the mounting surface. It is the recommended method of attaching the load to the nut. ...

Description: Spacers are unthreaded cylindrical fasteners fabricated from a variety of materials including brass, stainless steel, and nylon. Similar to standoffs, spacers differ in that they are unthreaded. ...

Description: Standoffs are fasteners used to create space between printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies and are the standard fastener for mounting PCBs to prevent electrical shorts. Standoffs are similar to ...

Description: Classes of thread fit is one of three factors one must consider when deciding what type of thread is best for a given fastener application. The other 2 are thread form and thread series. We will ...

Description: Can you explain some basic screw and thread terms? ...

Description: I have some fasteners that have mating threads, internal and external. Often, I have a problem loosening and separating the parts. Why is this happening, and how can it be avoided? ...

Description: What are the pros and cons of selecting a "coarse" vs "fine" thread for a fastener? ...

Description: I want to use your threaded standoff, Part Number 12040RSS???-12 for a panel thickness of 10 GA sheet steel. I don't want to swage it, and after flaring, the shank must be flush to under-flush. How do ...

Description: Fasteners are in virtually every industry, application and even most products. Manufacturers are forced to decide which fastener might be best for their specific product. If they do not make the right ...

Description: Stainless steel screws come in many different shapes and sizes, one type of screw is the self-tapping screw. These screws are designed in a way where their threading allows them to be placed into a ...

Description: Smalley engineers have seen and heard it all when it comes to retaining rings, so who better to ask about the best ring for your application than the experts themselves. From materials, to size, ...

Description: Spirolox retaining rings are used to serve as a removable shoulder within an assembly. These rings not only work to retain components in an assembly when installed in a groove, they are also designed ...

Description: Smalley retaining rings eliminate the protruding ears that can interfere with the assembly while providing a 360-degree retaining surface. Their unique design means no special tools are required. ...

Description: Unlike salespeople, Sales Engineers are engineers first. Smalley Sales Engineers use their technical expertise to steer you in the direction of the products that will best suit your needs instead of ...

Description: Welcome back to the Ask the Expert Blog, where our engineers answer commonly asked ring and spring design questions. This week, our experts field some questions about Spirolox retaining rings, ...

Description: Welcome back to the Ask the Expert Blog. This week, our experts answer some questions about retaining ring gaps and improving the performance of a retaining ring in a high RPM application. ...

Description: Welcome back to the Ask the Expert Blog, where our engineers answer commonly asked ring and spring design questions. This week, our experts field some questions about retaining rings. Specifically, ...

Description: Compression Limiters are used to protect plastic components in bolted joints and maintain a threaded fastener's clamp load by eliminating plastic creep. To function properly, bearing surface beneath ...

Description: Precision Shims are used as compensators to absorb tolerances between mating components. They significantly reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for each component to be precision ...

Description: It might be unusual to think of bolts and nuts as cutting-edge technology, but for at least 1,800 years these fasteners were nothing less. Until the Industrial Revolution, the six classical machines ...