Fastener Distributor

A 3D printed design for a large configuration requires proper fastening of the smaller components forming an assembled structure that is basically used as a hardware prototype.  There are a few different ways of fastening the pieces and it’s important to understand the use of suitable fasteners on 3D printed parts.

The use of stainless steel fasteners is quite popular because of their excellent corrosion-resistant and recyclable properties. They offer resistance against any level of usage severity and have great load-bearing characteristics in both hot and cold weather. However, if these fasteners are not handled properly; it may bring damage to the entire setup. Here are few mistakes you certainly cannot afford to make when using stainless steel fasteners.

There are various kinds of fasteners available for application in numerous industries and they differ in dimension, durability, robustness, pull-out strength, shear-capacity, corrosion-resistance and many other factors that go into manufacturing a certain type of fastener for particular equipment. Speaking of which, the aviation industry utilizes parts that meet the safety standards recommended by the relevant body, and in order to fit those parts firmly to tolerate a huge amount of stress, the fasteners such as aircraft nuts and bolts play the vital role.

Stainless steel fasteners may be an economically apt option that offer outstanding anti-corrosion properties, but that doesn’t mean they are not going to corrode or cost you anything extra in the long run.  Improper habits employed by casual operators can sometimes break down a properly-maintained framework. You need to educate the employees with good habits that preserve long-lasting characteristics of the stainless steel fasteners.

An astonishing amount of metallic waste is created by the industries in the form of fasteners. The household wastes also do not help the cause. It’s our prime responsibility to exert a positive impact on the environment by reusing and recycling anything that poses threat, let alone be the fasteners. Landfill disposal is not the ideal solution for toxic materials, and there’s a need to have proper fastener recycling practices in action; some of which are listed below.

The technology behind driving the fasteners into their slots has drastically improved right from the age of screw drivers to cordless drills. In today’s modern era, automatic machines have made it easier to carry out fastening operations without dealing with much disorientation. However, driving the screws into their holes with millimeter precision requires practice and skill of the operator. Overdriving the fasteners can reduce the pull-out strength and shear capacity by 5-22%, depending upon the extent to which the nail is overdriven.

The scientific definition of galvanic corrosion describes it as an electrochemical process in which two different metals or alloys come in electrical contact with each other in the presence of an electrolyte under the conditions of a corrosive environment, which leads to relative corrosion of both the materials in contact.

Rusting of iron is the most common example of galvanic corrosion, in which the core steel of the iron sheet is attacked and the protective coating of zinc is destroyed.  Zinc being less noble is susceptible to the galvanic attack and once fully exterminated; it can cause the base metal to corrode very quickly. On the other hand, tin being more noble than the core steel makes it harder to break, but when it does, the underlying steel suffers the worst.

Repair services are less called for, if maintenance of any sort of equipment is done on a routine basis with a simply outlined procedural approach that keeps a check on small things such as loosening of screws and other fasteners that hold the structure firmly. Not only does it save cost on future repairs, but also ensure there is no long term damage taking place. So if you have been frequently experiencing loose screws in the recent past, you should know the actual reasons behind it!

The heat treatment process employs cooling and heating operations applied on alloys or metals in the solid state of matter. Fasteners are subjected to application of heat in order to achieve desired alteration in rigidity, smoothness, malleability and material strength.  The microstructure of the metal parts is altered by the process of annealing to ease off the manufacturing operation.

In this process, the three most common types of furnaces used are: rotary, batch and continuous mesh-belt. Such an operation involves huge investment of energy and cost. Hence, it’s sensible to keep a few points in mind when heat treating fasteners.

Solar panels absorb the sun’s rays and use them to create a source of energy which leads to generation of heat and electricity. These can either be installed on the roof or in an open ground which receives direct sunlight. The most vital thing is the tilt of the panel, so that the surface can be exposed to maximum rays.

Depending upon the configuration of mounting a solar panel, there are different types of fasteners required to firmly hold the structure in order to resist any structural bend under extreme conditions. Reliability and stability of the mounting fasteners cannot be comprised, especially when the setup in question is a solar panel.