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Hardness defines how a material resists permanent deformations such as indentation. Because measuring this characteristic is a mature technology, several hardness methods are available that produce different hardness values.

Parts like fasteners are typically tested at heat treatment to affect the process and the outcome. However, these tests are also conducted on raw materials for high-strength fasteners or some coating finishes.

Advantages of Hardness Testing

Such tests are quick and easy, relatively inexpensive, and can work on finished components since they do not destroy the specimen, which can be of any size and shape, such as a fastener. In general, mechanical hardness tests rely on an indenter made of tough material, such as hardened steel, carbide, or diamond. It presses into the surface of the test component at a specific force.

The hardness values come from either how deeply the indenter penetrates or the size of the indent with smaller indents signifying harder materials. Higher numbers mean harder materials.

Types of Tests

The following are just three of the major hardness tests. Tables are available for converting one hardness test scale to another. However, some of these values are interpolated because there is no direct mathematical correlation among scales. You should only use conversion tables as a last resort.

Brinell Hardness Test

In the early 20th century, the Brinell Ball Test stood out as the most popular. It presses a hard ball into the test material with a known load. Based on EN ISO 6506-1 standards, a typical value from this test is 600 HBW 1/30/15, which means:

• 600 – Brinell hardness number
• HB – Hardness symbol for Brinell
• W – Indenter type, which is tungsten carbide
• 1 – Diameter of the ball in millimeters.
• 30 – kilogram-force (applied force)
• 15 – Duration of the test force in seconds

Rockwell Hardness Test

The Rockwell Hardness Test starts with a light load and then continues with a heavier load at a specific duration with an indenter. The heavier load is removed, leaving only the indent by the light load. The difference in depth between the two loads represents the Rockwell hardness number. A typical value from this test is 60HRBW, which means:

• 60 – Rockwell hardness value
• HR – Hardness symbol for Rockwell
• B – Rockwell scale symbol
• W – Ball type, which is S for steel and W for tungsten

Vickers Hardness Test

This test uses a square-based pyramid indenter. (A variant of this test, Micro Vickers testing is reserved for a small or limited area. An example is the carburized surface of a gear for testing the surface, core, and carburized thickness.)

The test impresses as a reference for deciding a dispute between hardness results. A typical value from this test is 640HV30/10, which means:

• 640 – Vickers hardness value
• HV – Hardness symbol for Vickers
• 30 – Kilogram force (applied force)
• 10 – Duration in seconds

Contact Us

Do you want more information on hardness testing methods or how it can affect your choice of fasteners? Then please contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

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Whether your products are used in systems that are common or critical, you want to ensure that they meet the high standards of your target market. Bossard can help with 14 state of the art testing labs on three continents that boast ISO/IEC 17025 certification. Our services reward you with high quality at minimal risk.

Our facilities can take charge of the following wide range of fastener tests on your products.

• Tensile Testing and Compression Strength Testing is a standard procedure that can determine yield point, tensile strength, elongation fracture, and other mechanical characteristics.
• Hardness Tests / Hardness Profile Measurements rely primarily on measure indentations to test mechanical properties such as case hardness, hardness profile, surface hardness, and core hardness.
• Friction Coefficient Testing / Torsion Testing can find the coefficient of friction to determine the clamping force and tightening torque. We recommend this test to ensure that screws are tightened in the correct order.
• Whether at our laboratories or at your location, Torque Analysis uses your original working pieces, which are made of plastic and metals, to determine the tightening torque of your application.
• Coating Thickness Measurement measures the thickness of the required protective coating by using X-rays and a coating thickness gauge.
• Spectral Analysis identifies materials and ensures quality control of semi-finished and finished products.
• Fastening Optimization helps you to choose the right fastener for your application to minimize costs in the supply chain and during production and assembly. We can also deliver the optimum specifications for your fastener.
• Loosening Analysis examines the bolted joint to determine the right clamping force when subject to different vibrations, forces to transmit, and temperatures of use. It can determine the best way to secure the joint based on the fastener and its function.
• Corrosion Analysis looks at how corrosion can affect fasteners and other components. We help you choose reliable countermeasures for reducing or removing corrosion from the wide array of corrosion protection systems.
• Salt Spray Test is a standardized test for evaluating corrosion protection. It determines how different anti-corrosion coatings react on test pieces that are sprayed with a saline solution in the test chamber.
• Ultra-Sonic Preload Measuring looks at the preloads that are generated when a screw is tightened. Because measuring the preload/clamping force is not easy, we use a special ultra-sonic measuring device that can evaluate how a change in screw length affects preload.
• Failure Analysis determines the root cause of failures and the best ways to prevent them. Among possible reasons are change of friction conditions, too much or too little tightening, loss of preload due to setting, and corrosion.,
• Joint Design Calculation, which is based on the MDESIGN tool, enables us to recommend the best design and assembly based on calculations of contact surface pressure, variation of friction, assembly method, and different expansion coefficients of fasteners and other components.

To find out more about how any of our tests can help make quality assurance more reliable and improve the design and assembly of your products, please contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

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Hardness Measuring Techniques and Application to Fasteners and Hardware

When you’re looking for the right fasteners to use with electrical vehicles, trust Bossard to deliver smart solutions. We understand that your customers are focused on social responsibility, environmental concerns, and sustainable CO2 balance. We can help you choose the fasteners that make your products competitive now and in the future.

Why Bossard?

Relying on our expertise rewards you with several advantages:

We act as your one-stop shop with over a million fastening solutions, control elements, and electric assembly accessories. If you’re looking for a specific fastener for EV development, you’ll find it at Bossard.

Our many years of market experience in the EV sector has produced many successful projects and long-standing relationships with innovative partners.

The quality of our suppliers is backed by test laboratories with ISO-IEC 17025 certification in 10 countries around the world.

One size does not fit all with us. We tailor our solutions to your individual requirements.

Through Smart Factory Logistics, you can focus on your core expertise while we fully automate the logistics behind B- and C-part management and make them more transparent.

When you need assistance in developing products, you can consult our Expert Design service to help you choose the right fasteners and materials from the beginning. We can also assist with prototypes and small series.

Body in White Fasteners

Body in White (BIW), which is the main frame of the vehicle that has been joined together using different types of joining processes. The attachment to this structure has many different demands and will usually require high-strength fasteners that are corrosion resistant and are easy to assemble and disassemble. To meet those requirements, we offer the following types of fasteners:

Weld Nuts & Studs

Through welding, metal fasteners such as weld studs, weld pins, and threaded studs and weld nuts are joined to another metal object through an arc at the speed of lightning. The process can be highly automated and depending on the type of welding it can only requires access to one side of the material.

PEM® Large Diameter Clinching

Hardened clinch fasteners increase thread strength and produce clean assemblies. The fasteners can either be installed In-DIE during the forming process or offline using a C-Frame. There are no thermal stresses even with the high resistance to push and torque outs. The resulting clean work environment reduces any concerns about the environment.

Self-Piercing Technology, Flow Drill Screws

These fasteners combine drilling and thread forming to increase the speed of one-sided assembly, which drops to less than one minute. Because the rivets are self-piercing, the material experiences no heat zones during installation. The flow drill screws are highly resistant to vibration and loosening torque.

Structural Blind Rivets

Because they stand out as a strong solution for structural assembly, these fasteners are excellent for high-tensile applications. Only one side is needed for access and one fastener can accommodate up to four rivets with large diameters. The result is an attachment that is both durable and reliable.

Next Steps

If you have any questions or want to get started with our solutions, please contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

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Welcome to the expansive world of rivets. A rivet is a highly effective mechanical fastener comprised of a cylindrical stem on one end and the head on the other. As leaders in fastening technology, Bossard offers years of experience and knowledge designed to help you confidently make the best fastening decision for your application. Let’s take a closer look at three main types of rivets:

• Blind Rivets
• Blind Rivet Nuts
• Lock Bolts
  
  

Blind Rivets

Also known as break stem rivets, blind rivets are simply tubular fasteners with a mandrel in the middle. To apply blind rivets, they must be inserted into pre-drilled holes in the parts that are to be joined with a special tool that draws the mandrel through the rivet’s body. Then the blind end will expand, and the mandrel will be snapped off.

One of the most desirable attributes of blind rivets is they only require a one-sided exit. This is a massive benefit because most fastening solutions will require a two-sided exit. There are several different types of blind rivets, including:

1. Non-structural: Engineered for applications with medium requirements regarding tensile and shear force.
2. Structural: Employed by applications that have a higher requirement regarding tensile and shear force.
3. Speed: Used in applications where manufacturing speed is paramount. These types of rivets are suitable for applications with low requirements for tensile and shear force. 
   
   

Applications for Non-Structural Rivets vs Structural Rivets

The difference between these two types is the breaking point of the mandrel. On structural rivets, the breaking point is predefined and breaks always above the sheer edge of the application material. Also, the mandrel is mechanically locked inside the blind rivet body, which means it never falls out. The design of a structural rivet ensures the mandrel always supports the mechanical force/resistance in terms of shear and tensile forces regarding the fastening point. 

A Closer Look at Speed Rivets

As the name suggests, speed rivets are used where manufacturing speed is necessary, and there are no high requirements for tensile and shear force within the application. The biggest advantage of utilizing speed rivets against other types of blind rivets is you don’t have to reload the installation gun each time you want to install it. 

Blind Rivet Nuts

Blind rivet nuts are multifunctional fasteners. At first, blind rivet nuts can perform like a blind rivet — fastening two or more materials together with only a one-sided exit. However, the key advantage of using blind rivet nuts is their versatility in working with a vast range of materials.

Specifically, they can be used to bring in a strong and reliable thread into a thin or thick sheet metal plate, profile, composite, or plastics where thread forming is impossible. There are many types on the market. 

• Standard rivet nuts with an open-end
• Standard blind rivet nuts
  
  

Lock Bolts

As a high-strength fastening solution, lock bolts consist of a separate pin and collar that are mechanically locked during the installation process. These fasteners boast the ability to withstand the toughest applications and environments that traditional screw and rivet joints wouldn’t be able to perform. Lock bolts also offer excellent resistance to vibration and material fatigue. 

Ready to learn more about choosing the best rivet for your application? Watch our latest video — Rivet Technology from Bossard — and then reach out to the Bossard team for tailored fastening solutions. 

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No matter your industry or segment, protecting what needs to be protected is critical. And when it comes to different access locking and control solutions, the team at Bossard can and will help. Our seasoned team of access locking and control engineers specialize in helping other engineers and product developers create more secure and reliable solutions.

Let’s take a quick look at a few key types of access locking and control solutions. To see these mechanisms in action in everyday scenarios, watch our latest video: Access Solutions from Bossard. 

What Is a Cam Latch?

The cam latch is a relatively simple locking mechanism designed to secure access to entry points and panels. Cam latches are made up of a latch and body that rotates when actuated to release or secure.

What Are Draw Latches and Hinges? 

Draw latches function by leveraging the simple principle of drawing two parts or items together by using tension. The key parts of a draw latch assembly are:

• The blade, which can be a wire-formed loop, hooked plate, or another mechanism. 
• The keeper, which is a hooked plate engineered to receive the blade. 
• The hinge, which is discussed in more detail below. 

With a draw latch, the tension is established when the blade is connected to the keeper and then clamped down. For most draw latches, the tension is released as the latch is rotated into a vertical position; while the horizontal position usually results in tension being applied. 

What Is a Friction Hinge?

The friction hinge — also called a torque hinge — is an important access locking and control solution designed to provide resistance to the pivoting motion of the hinge. These mechanisms are used for holding doors, lids, panels, and display devices at certain angles for long periods. 

What Is a Gas Spring?

Also called the pressure gas spring, gas pressure damper, and gas damper, gas springs are designed to solve simple to complex requirements for closing, opening, tilting, and damping tables, flaps, loungers, or seats. Unlike other mechanical springs that use elastic deformation, gas springs rely on compressed gas located inside an enclosed cylinder that is sealed with a sliding piston that pneumatically stores potential energy. At the same time, this design enables the gas spring to withstand external forces applied parallel to the direction of the piston shaft. 

Contact Bossard for Customized Access Solutions

At Bossard, we are your experienced manufacturing partner. We are home to a vast range of tailored access solutions designed for an array of applications. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today for solutions or guidance at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com. And feel free to watch our latest YouTube video — Access Solutions from Bossard — to see many of our actual access and locking solutions in everyday scenarios. 

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