Industrial fasteners are widely used in the automobile and aerospace industry and many other manufacturing and construction sectors. Industrial fasteners are forged using processes like CNC machining, closed-die forging, and hot bending. Ultimately, you get a strong product that can be used in any industry. The industrial fastener must be of high quality and standards. They should withstand various weather and chemical conditions without getting damaged or a need for regular replacement.
With industrial fasteners, understanding the basics and their differences is vital. This helps you identify a suitable fastener for your project. For instance, people interchangeably use the words “industrial bolts” and “industrial screws”. However, these industrial fasteners are different. While a bolt looks like a screw, either a threaded hole or a nut holds it on the other end. In this post, we will look at the properties and various types of industrial fasteners.
Types of Industrial Fasteners
There are many types of industrial fasteners in the market today. They are the hardware parts used to join objects. They include things like nuts, bolts, screws, and many others. As we saw above, you must know the type of fastener you need for your project. Below are some of the industrial fasteners:
Screws
Screws are fastening tools that hold power using their threaded shafts. To fix them, you need a screwdriver. However, there are different subcategories of screws;
Self-drilling screws
Self-drilling screws have a pointed edge that works as a drill bit. You may use it as a sharp cutting thread. During installation, they tap into a hole when you are installing them. Self-drilling screws are mainly used for quick drilling in both wood and metals.
Coach screws
These are heavy-duty screws having a hexagonal or square head and threaded internal cylindrical shaft that tapers to a point at the tip. Coach screws are used to hold heavy timber, fixing metals to wood, concrete, and masonry.
Drywall screws
These screws offer a stronger hold and have small heads. The head is used to fix the screw to metals.
Other worthy mentions include self-tapping screws and pan Head screws that secure various metal parts.
Washers, bolts, and nuts
These are the common fasteners you will find in any home, industrial installation, and other machinery. They function together to clamp joints. To use a bolt, you insert it through the surface to be joined and then use a nut to fasten it on the other end. If it still does not grip it, a washer may be used.
The common types of bolts include hanger bolts, plough bolts, square-headed bolts, carriage bolts, hex bolts, and flange bolts.
Rivets
Rivets are industrial fasteners that permanently join two or more metals. They are among the oldest techniques for joining metals. A rivet comprises a rod (cylindrical tube) on one end and a head on the other. The head can have different shapes and has a larger diameter compared to the rod. The rod is inserted into the metal surfaces to be joined and fitted. Compared to other fasteners, rivets are the most durable. The rivets include POR rivets, split rivets, shear connectors, lock bolts, and collar rivets. They are widely used in making bridges, rail, maritime, and automotive industries.
Properties of Industrial Fasteners
High tensile strength
Industrial fasteners should not break even under high tensions. Their applications like; fitting drilling components or rail lines require that the fasteners have high tensile strength. With this, you do not have to change them repeatedly. Lack of enough tensile strength on industrial fasteners can end up causing accidents.
High resistance
The industrial fasteners should be able to withstand corrosion. They should have low reactive power because they are used for various applications like drilling, furnaces, and fabricating parts of the chemical industries. They should withstand the various weather and climatic conditions. Whether Sunny or rainy seasons, their functioning should remain the same.
Industrial fasteners are made from materials like stainless steel, chrome, aluminium, and silicon bronze. All these materials have a high level of tolerance.
Conclusion
Industrial fasteners are vital for your machinery. They can either make or break your machinery depending on the type and quality of fasteners you use. Thus, it is prudent to select high-quality industrial fasteners that will not disappoint you. You should look out for their tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and other properties before purchasing them. Lastly, remember that different fasteners perform different functions. Therefore, do not purchase fasteners that will not serve their intended purpose.
