subject: What Are The Newest Developments In Industrial Fasteners? [print this page] Industrial fasteners are used in a variety of different applications, from military and aerospace to steel mills and auto manufacturing. While most people assume that industrial fasteners are things like rivets, there is actually a wide variety of these different materials and components. From the iron age to the space age there have been different kinds of fasteners out there to fit any job.
There are a number of unique fasteners that have become popular on the market. For instance, take the Plus+Tite fasteners. These fasteners look like rivets, but they actually have a threaded insert where a bolt goes in from the rear. This provides superior hold, as you have the power of the threads and the two heads on either side of the opening to hold together the materials. These fasteners are very popular for sheet metal and plastic, but they can also be used for larger materials that require a tight grip that won't slack up over time.
Additionally, traditional fasteners have turned towards what were once considered exotic materials as a way to become stronger and to compete on the open market in this technological age. For instance materials like titanium and tungsten carbide have joined up in an area with more traditional stainless steel fasteners. High-nickel alloys have also become more common in the fasteners of today's industry for the unique properties that they possess. In addition to strength and hardness (something that titanium and tungsten carbide are both renowned for) these materials may also have to stand up to extremes of temperature. This can be a serious issue in industry, especially in places like furnaces or freezers where temperature extremes can weaken lesser metals over the years.
Beyond these materials, and the different types of unique fasteners being employed, there are also new methods for attaching these fasteners and making sure that they're firmly in place. While lesser materials might be put on with nail gun-like tools, or even by hand, there are other applications that require heavy duty tools to put on. For instance, impact and torque wrenches are necessary to get a tight fit for many of the heavy duty fasteners, particularly the hex bolts that are out on the market and in use in today's industry.
Individually each type of achievement can be altered to increase the strength of your fastener's bond. However, if you choose a specific type of fastener, a specific type of material and a specific application tool you are going to get increased results better than any other industrial option.