Industrial Fasteners
Industrial fasteners are connective mechanisms, usually made of metal, that join and secure material together. They are used in many applications within the aerospace, construction, electronic and automotive industries. Fasteners come in many different shapes and sizes, including screws, nuts and bolts. Some are threaded fasteners and have a raised spiral rib wrapping around the shaft, while others are smooth and straight. Most have a head, which is the flat and wide top of the fastener that determines how it will sit against the material. Stainless steel is often the material fasteners are made of because it is a strong, temperature resistant metal. Sometimes they are manufactured out of plastics for use in children's toys, appliances and the automotive industry because of their color range, shape range and their resistance to shock and vibrations.
Depending on the type of material, industrial fasteners are manufactured many different ways. Plastic fasteners are injection molded, steel fasteners are cold worked, and other metals, such as titanium, brass and bronze, are heated and casted. If the industrial fastener is threaded, it goes through a process called thread rolling, in which a die with a threaded profile is pressed with high pressure onto the blank fastener, and the thread profile is transferred. This is a cold working process, meaning the metal is not heated and the atmosphere is room temperature. Cold working the metal ensures its strength and durability.