Author Archives Bossard

What is a Metal Locking Tie?

metal locking tie

A Metal Locking Tie (MLT) is a cable bundling product that is made of stainless steel. It has a self-locking head to increase efficiency in installations. The head locks into place at any place along the tie body to provide convenience and ease for your toughest jobs.

Uses & Performance

While on the job the smooth surface and rounded edges protect the worker and increase safety on the job site. This product can be used for outdoor, indoor, and underground applications, including direct burial. The Metal Locking Tie is a strong durable method of cable bundling. Metal Locking Ties can be used for both general-purposes and corrosive environments.

Self-Locking Head

This patent design has an aggressive locking head for a quicker locking, tighter installation. With a unique locking ramp this assures the self-locking head is locked in any positon. The strengthening ribs increases the locking hold for safety and security on the job site.

 

Check out more about Metal Locking Ties visit at www.bossard.com. For more information, or if you have any questions please reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

December 22, 2017
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Why Do You Need to Protect from Electro-Static Discharge

ow to Protect from Electro

One of the many ways to grounding is protection from electro-static discharge. It only takes 15 volts for the damage to begin according to the Electrostatic Discharge Association.  This damages circuit board traces and weakens equipment, while degrading performance over time and shortening the life of the equipment. It is estimated that one third of all equipment failures are due to electro-static exchanges.

Bossard has many grounding products, which allows you to protect your circuit board and equipment. With regular maintenance and up keep, this will be one less thing you need to worry about.

Electro-static discharge may not seem like a big deal, but over time it can lead to damage to your circuit board. To protect yourself against electro-static discharge contact us at www.bossard.com. For more information, or if you have any questions please reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

December 15, 2017
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How to Keep Your Cables Secure

keep your cables secure

Keep your cables secure with clamps and clips, without the use of cable ties. The variety of different cables out there and their multitude of needs to be met, it is hard to differentiate which clamp or clip is the right one.

In different situations there is a clamp or clip for that. You can choose from materials like standard nylon, UV resistant, impact resistant, high temperature, and metal. Each one can also have an adhesive back or can be screw or rivet applied. You also have the choice of flat cable mounts, adjustable mounts or corrugated tubing holders.

Depending on the situation and the cable, Bossard has a clip or cable to meet your needs. To learn more about which clip or clamp is right for your cable visit us at www.bossard.com. For more information, or if you have any questions please reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

December 08, 2017
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3 Labeling Options

cord labeling

Trying to keep wiring systems straight and organized? With different types of labeling systems or products, you can accomplish your goals of efficiency and high quality performance. You do not have to choose between one or the other. The labeling systems complement each other and can all be accessed through one computer system, keeping everything streamlined and efficient.

Handheld Labeling System

Handheld Labeling Systems give you quality industrial strength labels. These labels can be put on a wide variety of label materials for electrical and network applications such as wire/cable components, safety, and facility identification.

Computer Printable Labeling System

The Computer Printable Labeling System has a complete line of labeling software. Connecting to your computer and comes complete with industrial strength label materials, and desktop printers to streamline productivity, increase dependability and value to labeling requirements.

Permanent Identification

There is no need to worry about your labels being destroyed with Permanent Identification. They are perfect for harsh and industrial environments, giving you long-term durability and legibility. Permanent Identification can be used but not limited to pipes, conduit, cables, and equipment.

To learn more about our labeling systems contact us at www.bossard.com. For more information, or if you have any questions please reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

December 01, 2017
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Nut vs. Bolt: Which One Is Stronger?

Nut vs. bolt is a common matchup among engineers. Engineers design joints to withstand a certain amount of clamp load, but clamp load is not easy to measure when assembling a joint, so torque is specified. The assembler knows they have a “good” joint when the proper torque is achieved, indicated by an audible click of the wrench, or a green light.

Now consider what happens if too much torque is applied, and the joint starts to yield. If the bolt is the weaker joint member, it will begin to stretch, necking down in the threaded portion, eventually breaking before it ever reaches the prescribed torque. In this case, the assembler stops his work and raises a red flag – something is wrong, and the problem is addressed.

In the second scenario, we again apply too much torque and the joint starts to fail, but the nut or tapped hole begins to yield instead of the bolt. As the internal threads start to fail, friction and heat are created, and galling or seizing of the threads may occur.

In some instances, we may achieve the click or green light, indicating that we have a “good” joint and the assembler moves on to the next job, not realizing that yielding has occurred. Once the product is used, the service loads may be enough to cause a catastrophic failure of the already compromised joint.

Which is stronger: the nut or the bolt? As a rule of thumb, always make sure that the nut (or nut member) is stronger than the bolt.

Check out our thread engagement length calculator on www.bossard.com to make sure that your joints are designed properly.

November 24, 2017
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Ultimate Guide on Tolerances for Fasteners & Assemblies

Tolerances for Fasteners and Assemblies

One of the keys to understanding the metric system is the understanding of its tolerance system. There is simply no manufacturing method that enables production to perform to exact dimensions. In the inch system, tolerance is mainly done by giving minimums and maximums.

The ISO tolerance system was created by the International Standard Organization in 1948. Originally it was developed for fits and is still mainly used in this manner. It is based on IT Grades which are base tolerances from which all the individual tolerances are derived.

The system is composed of a letter and number base.

The letter indicates the location of the tolerance (whether plus or minus, how much plus, how much minus).

The number indicates the tolerance range. The bigger the number, the bigger the spread between the minimum and the maximum, and therefore the larger the tolerance range.

Download the Bossard Technical section for basic tolerances and tolerance fields, or email ProvenProductivity@bossard.com with any questions regarding tolerances.

 

Joe Stephan
Application Engineer

November 17, 2017
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Why Should You Use Standard Metric Fasteners?

Standard Metric Fasteners

What is meant by the term “standard fasteners”? Generally, it refers to fasteners that are stocked on the shelf rather than made to order, which translates into shorter lead times. Often, looking at a catalog will give you a pretty good idea of what is available, but below are some general guidelines and a few exceptions to note.

Standard fasteners lengths follow a pattern. For short fasteners, typically lengths under 20mm are available in 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20mm. Lengths from 20mm to 70mm are available in 5mm increments, while lengths over 70mm skip to 10mm increments. For example, you can get an M10 x 65 or M10 x 70, but the next available length is M10 x 80.

Width Across Flats (WAF) for hex products can be a bit confusing. DIN standard hex head parts are generally stocked more than ISO standard hex heads. This can be significant in diameters M8, M10 and M12. DIN parts are 1mm larger WAF for these sizes, requiring a larger wrench to drive them. Other diameters share the same WAF for both standards. Many distributors consider DIN and ISO hex heads as equivalent even though the heads may be a slightly different size.

Metric socket head products are not readily available in all property classes. Socket head cap screws are offered in 8.8 and 12.9, but not in 10.9. Flat socket head cap screws and button socket head cap screws are available in 10.9, but not in 8.8 or 12.9. Exceptions can be made with special orders, but these are not considered standard.

Contact us through ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to learn more about standard, readily available fasteners.

 

Doug Jones
Applications Engineer
djones@bossard.com

November 10, 2017
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How to Match Nuts, Bolts, AND Washers

When selecting fasteners that are to be assembled together, it is important to consider their strength compatibility. The nut should always be stronger than the bolt, so when using higher strength bolts, such as metric class 10.9, make sure to use the correct, corresponding nut. In this case, a class 10 nut would be correct. Stronger nuts may be used with lower strength bolts without any problems.

Strength of washers should also be considered, but are often overlooked. Using non-heat treated washers with heat treated hex head cap screws can cause joint settling as the relatively small bearing surface of the cap screw can embed itself into the soft washer over time, causing a loss of clamp load.

Standard metric flat washers have class designations that can be paired with heat treated bolts. Below is a compatibility chart that will help you make the right choice.

Check out the “Technical Resources” section at www.bossard.com for more information on selecting the proper fasteners, or reach out to us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com with any questions.

 

Doug Jones
Applications Engineer
djones@bossard.com

 

November 03, 2017
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Why Process Control is Important for Fasteners

How Important is Process Control for Fasteners

Many fastener manufacturers are faced with several different customer requirements or international standards. This leads manufacturers to create sampling plans to detect nonconforming product during mass production or final inspection. There are also several different AQL (Acceptance Quality Limit) levels according to batch or lot sizes. Do you think relying on final inspection sampling is the best idea? Even if they choose various samples from multiple bins of the same batch?

Fastener manufacturers are no different than any other industry. Speed, delivery, and quality are key, and most companies have been driving lean methodologies and efficiency tools into manufacturing processes. But does this have a negative impact on quality? Maybe, but most fastener manufacturers do still maintain minimum sampling plans that are fairly aligned with some international standards for mass production.

So what is a good detection method to minimize nonconforming product during the manufacturing process? Contact us through ProvenProductivity@bossard.com, and see what quality processes we encourage Bossard manufacturers to use to ensure quality fasteners for our customers.

Tony Peters

Quality Manager

October 27, 2017
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How to Find Your Correct Torque Like a Pro

All design engineers are faced with questions like “What torque is the correct torque?” and “How do I know my assemblers are achieving the correct torque?”. When Bossard engineers hear these questions we typically respond by asking “What clamp load are you trying to achieve?”. When asked, engineers usually reply with confused expressions, or the unveiling of a torque chart from engineering manuals or colleagues.  There is no doubt time and effort went into these torque charts, but how does the testing to create the chart relate to the application the engineer is working on?

Bossard’s biggest piece of advice is to test, test, test! The approach that yields the most success and maximizes the strength of fasteners is to test the application until failure. Until you know the point that the current fastener fails, you are throwing darts at your target clamp load. In some instances, friction varies from lot to lot and can affect the clamp load enough resulting in loose fasteners. Testing until failure helps you achieve a baseline average of total fastener strength. This baseline encompasses friction and is incontestable. The only thing left for the engineer to decide is the percentage of the baseline that is needed for the application. Typically, 75% of the failure torque is used for assembly but there are times in critical applications that fasteners are needed to be pushed further.
When investigating current torque strategies at your company don’t be afraid of torque charts. They can often be used as a great starting point. When a clamp load needs to be met to hold something together, challenge the tightening strategy and test it to prove its validity. You will never regret testing the actual application.

Have more questions about clamp load and proper torque? Reach out to Bossard at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com to receive personalized advice from one of our Application Engineers!

Ben Oostdik
Application Engineer
boostdik@bossard.com

October 20, 2017
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