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When you are in the business of assembling aircraft, you would be familiar with the stringent rules that normally apply to the way in which this has to be done. This is due to the fact that aircraft are delicate machines, and it’s therefore important that each of their parts works well. Failure to do […]

Aircraft and fasteners
When you are in the business of assembling aircraft, you would be familiar with the stringent rules that normally apply to the way in which this has to be done. This is due to the fact that aircraft are delicate machines, and it’s therefore important that each of their parts works well. Failure to do this could lead to a host of problems later on including litigation and loss of the license to manufacture such aircraft. This means that if you are in this business or intend to start one, you would need to know exactly how to choose such fasteners, so that you can avoid the potential complications associated with the process. Some of the factors that will affect your choice include:

DFAR Compliance
When you need to buy titanium carriage bolts or Inconel hex lag bolts for aircraft manufacture and assembly, one of the first things you should watch for is their compliance. DFAR compliance will ensure that all the parts used are of high quality, and conform to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations.  This is a standard for metals and alloys, which is often very stringent and usually surpasses the standards that are set by most aviation authorities in the world. In addition to that, this type of certification ensures that the fasteners you buy will be pure in terms of the type of metal the manufacturer says are used to make them.

 
ISO Supplier Certification
In addition to that, you can also use the ISO standard to figure out which supplier to get the parts from. The ISO certification defines the management standards that are used in running a business, which usually affects the quality of service offered. When you work with an ISO certified supplier, you can be sure that the fasteners you will get will be of high quality, and this will be documented. In addition to that, they will also have the best practices for dealing with you. For instance, you are unlikely to face delays in delivery and fulfillment of orders, which goes a long way in making a company more successful.
Choosing fasteners based on the type of aircraft involved
In addition to that, you also need to remember that the types of fasteners used for aircraft assembly will also depend on the type of aircraft involved. For instance, the fasteners used in fixing the rotors of a helicopter will be subjected to very different stresses compared to the ones that will be used to fix the engines of a large jet. The key to making the aircraft assembly safer is by ensuring that the parts chosen will actually fit the job for which they are used.
In summary, the most important thing to remember is that choosing fasteners for aircraft development is something that should definitely not be taken lightly. There are many factors that need to be gotten just right, and you need to spend a lot of time thinking things through. If you are not sure about how to proceed, it would be advisable to consult a professional for more help regarding this.

About the Author

Larry Melone
By Larry Melone
President

Started my career in the fastener world in 1969 at, Parker Kalon Corp. a NJ based screw manufacturer located in Clifton, NJ working in inventory control, scheduling secondary production and concluding there in purchasing. In 1971 I accepted a sales position at Star Stainless Screw Co., Totowa, NJ working in inside sales and later as an outside salesman, having a successful career at Star I had the desire with a friend to start our own fastener distribution company in 1980 named: Divspec, Kenilworth, NJ. This was a successful adventure but ended in 1985 with me starting Melfast in August 1985 and have stayed competitive and successful to date. Melfast serves the OEM market with approximately 400 accounts nationally.

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