Harrison Silverdale (HSL), a supplier of threaded inserts and specialised fasteners to the plastic moulding industry, recently worked with one of its key customers to provide a threaded insert for a new moulding, which would support a radiator on a luxury 4x4 vehicle. After an initial meeting to discuss the requirements HSL proposed a standard part, which would meet the design criteria. The pro...

Clamping pins have become the tried and tested method for securing the fixtures and jigs used in aircraft construction, as they enable quick and easy loading and unloading of large parts. However, in their traditional designs they are not without flaws, which prompted WDS Component Parts Ltd to look for improvements. Throughout the aerospace industry, accuracy is key. Removable jig plates make...

Published: 5th April 2017 By Ruben Limonta, technical engineer Ref: FFT170405 Any quality oriented manufacturer of retaining rings should assess the most appropriate production technology for its specific range of products. Steel strip blanking versus steel wire blanking is a prime example as it could influence the final performance of the retaining ring. It is evident that small sizes can’t be...

UK based distributor Techsil is launching three new flexible mould-making grades from Momentive Performance Materials. These new products will join the RTV664, an addition cure silicone system that can be used in compliance with US FDA food grade regulations. Momentive’s mould making range includes 21 addition and 8 condensation cure silicones for prototyping applications and making moulds for...

Rivit Srl has introduced the Flexriv® - a flexible container for spent mandrels, which will enable a riveting tool to go wherever the work is - making easy work of difficult to access spaces. All riveting tools equipped with a suction device normally have a rigid spent mandrel container, which makes the tool too bulky when you have to work in difficult to access spaces. The eventual absence of...

Mechanical tensioning and hydraulic tensioning are common methods to tighten large size bolts, each with its own strong advantages. Superbolt multi-jackbolt tensioners have been on the market since 1984, allowing bolted joints to be tightened mechanically without specialised skills or heavy tooling. But what if there was a product that combines the strengths of both Superbolt mechanical tension...

UK specialist fastener distributor, Star Fasteners, has collaborated with Arconic to produce the Penta-Lok – a fastener specifically designed for the composite panel market. Due to its high pull-out strength, Penta-Lok is suited for use within thin materials or delicate composites and within misaligned, oversized, or slotted holes, and its uniquely engineered peel system installs with ease int...

First published: 1st October 2013 By Andy Smith, Steel Construction Institute Ref: FFT111310/24 Andy Smith of the SCI (the Steel Construction Institute) reports on a recent project to develop characteristic resistances of bespoke connectors, using the approach described in BS EN 1990. Click here to download

Vehicle development and the lowering of fuel consumption means that cars now need to be made lighter without losing any stability. This can be achieved either by using new materials or by reconstructing existing parts in a way that retains their functionality. However, the challenge of making lightweight components is becoming more challenging, with every gram counting. By Reinhard Bührer, hea...

bigHead Bonding Fasteners Ltd provides sponsorship and supplier partnerships for several college and university level competitions and projects for engineering design. The design and manufacture of the composite components and provision for their efficient assembly are often closely comparable to those real world applications that bigHead encounter on a daily basis. bigHead says it’s prominent...