A structured pre-design checklist for engineers who need to get the specification right the first time. Custom screws can solve problems that off-the-shelf fasteners cannot, but only if the design specification is grounded in the right engineering decisions from the start. Specifying a custom fastener without working through the fundamentals
For product engineers who’ve ever thought, “close enough” – here’s why it rarely is. in product development, there’s a temptation to treat fasteners as an afterthought. You’re deep in design review, the Bill of Materials is nearly locked, and you’re asked about screws. Just using an off-the-shelf screw may seem
A technical comparison for specifying the right thread and why getting it wrong can be costly or even dangerous Thread direction is one of those design details that rarely surfaces until something goes wrong. Examples of what can go wrong include a fastener loosening under vibration; a gas fitting getting
Balancing Strength, Speed, and Material Compatibility in Plastics and Carbon Fiber As plastics and composites replace the use of metals in major industries, the question of how best to fasten complex assemblies is more relevant than ever. Self-tapping screws – fasteners that cut their own threads during installation – offer
When you learn about the components industry, you can truly get into the weeds about the different types of threads. Here is a complete breakdown of the most commonly used thread types. While the most common types of threads are straight threads and tapered threads, there are several other types
Today, everything in life must be dual function. Think of the phone in your hand. At one point, a phone was only a phone – meant for keeping in touch with a far-off friend or family member and nothing more. Today, it’s more used as an internet consumption device than
We’ve all seen it in our personal lives – whether a bolt coming loose on a car, or a piece of furniture or cabinet that has a loose bolt despite you tightening it multiple times. How can you combat this inconvenience? Well, there are actually a large amount of options
How the type of thread can completely change the characteristics of fasteners When the average person looks at a box of bolts or screws, they don’t think much past the basic size of the screw, or, if it will be exposed, maybe the color of the metal. But in the
