Fasteners Used in the Automotive Industry
In the automotive industry, the type of fasteners required depends on the torque. The amount of torque applied plays a huge role in the type of automotive fastener to be chosen. Nuts, bolts and washers are the primary types of automotive fasteners used in the industry. Nuts connect the bolts and screws to the automotive surface, they are primarily used in the construction of the wheel. Washers are disc-shaped instruments with holes. They stop leakages and hold the radiator securely.
Injection moulding has given way to finding vinyl-type plastic screws that also serve a purpose in the automotive industry. Even though metal automotive fasteners are treated with cold and heat, stainless steel fastenersare widely used in the automotive industry as the standard for the construction of automobiles.
As cars are exposed to all types of weather conditions the automotive fasteners must remain corrosion-resistant to function. Titanium is the top grade metal but due to its expensive nature, is not affordable for mass production.
Types of Fasteners Used in the Automotive Industry:
- Hex head bolt:
They are threaded ss fastener screws most commonly known for their ability to hold together strong material. They are machine screws most commonly used with nuts as they can be stuck inside holes to join machine parts. The hex head bolt has six heads and is made out of galvanized steel. They are known for their holding power and ability to not become too loose. They can be used to hold steel with steel and also wood with wood, and they are also used in construction sites.
Due to their strong screw head, they can be screwed easily and often require the use of socket wrenches to tighten and loosen them. Threaded hex heads are used to secure threaded holes and unthreaded have more power due to the part under their head that is unthreaded.
- Studs
Studs are screws with fully threaded sides, which means that they have threads on both sides. They are widely confused with bolts because they are both used interchangeably in the automotive industry. In the case of studs, the engineer needs to simply use a screwdriver or wrench to tighten the flat head of the screw. One of the drawbacks of using a stud is that they require nuts and washers to tighten its pressure. Studs which have undergone thermal treatment will have more strength and perform better than unheated ones, it is also useful to provide an additional heating treatment before using the screws.
In automotives, manufacturing studs are typically used for securing head gaskets and cylinders.
So studs are most commonly used in the design of the engine. Studs do not require an additional clamping force to secure them to the engine.
- Bolts
Bots are the opposite of studs as they are only partially threaded. It consists of a head and a cylindrical body. The head of the bolts is flat in shape and is used with nuts to fasten two hard parts. Bolts typically use a machine thread as this better serves the purpose of joining machine parts. Some threads run from below to the top of the head. A bolted joint can relatively easy to assemble and disassemble, this is because of its thread patterns which make it one of the most commonly used mechanical fasteners
- Washers
You should be extra careful while using a washer as any improper usage can result in mechanical failure. It is simply a steel plate with a hole in the middle. It is used to shorten the load on a fastener, it does this by distributing the pressure over a large surface area. Washers are used before installing screws as it prevents the machine part from becoming loose. It also prevents the bolt head from damaging the specific machine part to which it is assigned.
Washers can be used to increase strength and tightness in a nut and can also prevent the material from cracking due to pressure. Washers can also be used to prevent water erosion as they are waterproof. In special cases where you need extra tightness, more than one washer may be used, all it needs is that washer be thin enough to hold. One must also be careful to measure the washer as it may affect the tightness of the jointed area.
These are the different types of fasteners used in the automotive industry. If you’re in the automotive industry you must choose a screw that has undergone the proper treatment for corrosion resistance and is made of stainless steel. LP screw is the leading stainless steel fastener manufacturer in India. Read on:- https://bestynews.com/.
