Fixings have a critical role to play in mechanical design. First and foremost is that they physically hold components and therefore, products, together. So without them, all the gadgets and gizmos that we have known and grown to love, would fall apart. But their starring part all depends on the end goal of the product in question.
There are numerous fastenings that can be selected by a mechanical design engineer, such as bolts, screws, studs, rivets, nuts, nails, and washers. But before any choice is made, a careful selection process and examination of the product needs to be undertaken. This will include weighing up whether a permanent or non-permanent joint is required to perform the task it needs to complete. Both are as strong and reliable as one another. A non-permanent joint, as the name suggests, typically holds two parts together until it is required to be taken apart, dismantled or removed, without causing damage to the individual items. This is very different to a welded joint or rivets, which are permanent fixings.
As alluded above, the choice of fastening is resolved by considering a number of aspects relating to the product’s features and its functional requirements. So, a mechanical design engineer will examine and appraise based on a product’s size, weight, materials to be used, whether it is to be used inside or outside, and if there are any medical regulations or other red tape that needs to be adhered to. There may, of course, be budgetary restraints, and manufacturing details to contemplate, particularly the decision to produce in either low or high volume.
This, quite possibly, all sounds very complex. Nevertheless, small things in engineering are not insignificant but indeed play an important part in product design. To aid us, the CAD software that the Sanstec Design team uses, (Creo, Solidworks and Inventor), all stock fixings as standard part design models. These library models directly import into the main design, which effectively serves to reduce the overall product design time.
If you find yourself in a fix or have a problem that is proving difficult to solve, we are sure that we can help you onto the pathway which leads towards production.
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