Fastener Technology

Hardness is defined as a material’s resistance to an indentation or permanent deformation. Hardness measurement techniques started with the advent of the automotive industry and have since spread across a broad range of industries. Hardness measurement also plays an essential role in fastener and hardware manufacturing, as these components must be manufactured with deliverable quality consistency and resist a certain level of deformation and indentation. 

Numerous industries have come to rely on hardness measuring techniques as part of their manufacturing controls. When it comes to fasteners and similar hardware, hardness testing offers an economical and non-destructive means of ensuring product quality throughout the manufacturing process. Hardness testing is also more straightforward and convenient when compared to tensile tests. Despite these advantages, hardness measuring techniques are not a standalone methodology. Such tests must be complemented with other application-related tests to completely fulfill fastener and hardware testing requirements.

Hardness measurement and the subject of hardness itself is a mature technology. Francis Khoo from the Bossard Expert Team explores both in greater detail in our professional white paper. The white paper touches on earlier hardness testing methods as well as preparation for hardness testing, including six crucial points to ensure consistent results. The white paper also explores hardness measuring techniques as applied to a variety of different fastener types and other hardware requiring hardness control.

Although the white paper discusses hardness measuring techniques and the application to fasteners, it does not touch upon dynamic hardness or compatibility between hardness and tensile strength, nor does it deal with hardness concerning tempering processes.

Download our white paper to learn more about hardness measuring techniques and their application to fasteners. If you have further questions about the white paper or simply want to learn more about Bossard’s extensive product line, email us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com today.
 

As a highly versatile metal, lead has seen a vast array of uses throughout the ages. Even today, lead is still used in a variety of manufacturing processes to fulfill material requirements. Machine keys, plugs, and pins used for machining operations often feature lead as an instrumental component in their manufacture, for instance. Even in cases where lead is not intentionally added to materials, the heavy metal may still be present, albeit in very small amounts. 

Recycled metals may also contain trace amounts of lead, leading to fasteners and other materials not intended for machining operations to feature lead in very small concentrations. Since most fastener standards are not focused on the end-product’s exact material composition and with other factors affecting material selection, including geometric shape and desired mechanical properties, residual lead content has minimal negative impact given the product requirements.

For fasteners and other components where lead is not added intentionally into the chosen material, the material certificate may not mention the presence of the heavy metal. While there is a low chance of such materials containing lead in concentrations of 0.1 percent or more by weight, only extensive testing can determine for certain the presence of lead in such amounts.

In a recent professional white paper, Bossard’s team of experts led by Peter Witzke explore the usage of lead as an addition to metals. The white paper not only goes in-depth into the history of lead usage but also the types of metals that either incorporate lead as part of the material composition or feature lead in small concentrations. Witzke also discusses the availability and recovery of lead, along with alternatives to lead and how the presence of lead affects Bossard’s line of fasteners and other metallic products.

Download the full white paper now to learn more!

Unexpected fastener failure can catch anyone off-guard, especially after a product has been assembled and/or shipped to customers. One of the most common types of damage involves hydrogen embrittlement, a phenomenon that weakens and eventually destroys fasteners from within, leading to sudden breakages that not only compromise the products and structures they secure but also prove costly to rectify.

There is nothing new about hydrogen embrittlement. Experts uncovered the phenomenon as far back as 1875, but such failures remain poorly understood among many. The nature of hydrogen embrittlement also makes it nearly impossible to detect via in-process control or through outbound quality checks, since embrittlement develops long after fastener manufacture.

It is no wonder that hydrogen embrittlement, also known as hydrogen attack, is considered the silent killer of fasteners and other metal products.  

Types of Hydrogen Embrittlement

Hydrogen embrittlement comes in two forms:

•    Environmental hydrogen embrittlement – Caused by hydrogen externally introduced to the fastener, usually through corrosion, while the fastener is under a high-tensile load. Constant exposure to saltwater or acidic rainwater can factor into embrittlement and eventual fastener failure.
•    Internal hydrogen embrittlement – Caused by the introduction of residual hydrogen during the manufacturing process. Certain cleaning and plating processes can introduce free hydrogen atoms into the fastener, setting the stage for embrittlement after manufacture.

Hydrogen embrittlement affects a broad range of metals and alloys, but the phenomenon is typically associated with carbon and alloy steels. Failures due to hydrogen embrittlement typically occur only when the fastener is placed under tensile stress.

Prevention and Relief Choosing an appropriate surface treatment that does not introduce hydrogen during the plating process can help prevent internal hydrogen embrittlement. The Bossard Expert Team’s own Peter Witze authored a white paper that goes further in-depth about hydrogen embrittlement, including critical values of hydrogen concentration and procedures to inspect fasteners for hydrogen embrittlement. Download the white paper here.

There are three basic requirements for fastening technology that apply to just about every industry:

1. On the one hand, the fastening and joining function should be guaranteed over the entire service life of the product.
2. On the other hand, a simple and safe processing method is essential during production.
3. And finally, the solutions should be cost-effective and yet of high quality

With fastening solutions from the field of blind rivet technology, we offer fasteners that meet all three requirements and also offer additional advantages:

• One sided access
  • One of the main arguments in favour of blind rivets is that the process only requires one-sided access. Compact tools are available for this purpose. This is a huge benefit because fastening solutions normally are requiring two-sided access, their integration is reduced to work on individual parts or involves considerable set-up costs.
• Different materials can be joined together (mixed materials, plastics, sandwiches etc.)
  • Plastic parts
  • CRP materials
  • Aluminium
  • Magnesium
  • High density steels
  • Sandwich panels
  • Prepainted sheets
  • Etc.
• Different material thicknesses can be joined with only one rivet
• No special qualifications required
• No thermal load on the workpieces to be joined
• No cooling or curing time required
• No hazardous smoke

The first blind rivet was developed and manufactured in 1934 by “George Tucker Eyelet” in Birmingham, England. What was initially developed as a fastener exclusively for the aerospace industry was soon used in other industries due to its efficient processability and the advantage of one-sided access.

The POP® blind rivet was born.

The KVT-Fastening Group played a major role in the market launch of the POP® blind rivet at the beginning of the 1960s and today has extensive expertise in the field of blind riveting technology. A great deal has happened since then in the development of blind rivets. The latest development in the POP® brand range is the POP® VGrip™. The advantages of this new development are as unique as they are numerous.

• Homogeneous closing head
  • An important feature of the VGrip™ blind rivet is the closing head design. During the setting process, the sleeve material is moved radially outwards, resulting in a disc-shaped closing head. In addition, the mandrel head does not dip into the rivet sleeve, which is not the case with conventional multi-range blind rivets.
  • 
  • This special feature enables the POP® VGrip™ to distribute tensile forces over a considerably larger area on the side of the closing head (see following diagram). As a result, the VGrip™ can absorb higher tensile forces than a conventional multi-grip rivet. In addition, due to the greater load distribution, thinner or fragile sheets can be fastened to the closing head side/blind side without damaging or deforming them.

• Increased grip range
  • Conventional blind rivets are designed to cover a small specific grip range (application thickness) of components to be joined. For example, four different blind rivets with different grip ranges must be used for different application thicknesses from 1.5 to 6.0 mm. In order to reduce this complexity, the POP® VGrip™ allows a grip range from 1.5 to 6.0 mm to be processed with only one rivet (see diagram below). Thus, four different rivet types are replaced by only one type of rivet.

• In general, conventional multi-grip blind rivets work according to the same system and cover the same grip range. However, in comparison to VGrip™ multi-grip rivets within the same grip range do not always form a uniform closing head and can therefore not always absorb the full forces. With certain grip ranges, the closing head cannot form completely, which leads to a slight radial expansion. There is a risk that the connection will be axially loaded (see picture below)
• 

• Controlled bearing stress

• A hole soffit of the rivet sleeve may be desirable, for example, if the bore holes have to be aligned with each other or if it is to be prevented that the components slide sideways towards each other. However, radial expansion is undesirable if it damages the components or if the rivet sleeve material presses between the components to be joined and expands them. (see picture below).
• 
  • At VGrip™ in the standard configuration, the rivet sleeve can expand radially to maximize the clamp length range. To limit the radial expansion, the rivet body can be additionally embossed. The workpieces are pulled together securely and the hole soffit force of the components to be joined is reduced.

• High clamping force
  • Based on a modified riveting process, POP® VGrip™ has the ability to close gaps between the joined parts. This simplifies e.g. the work of the workers in production, because they do not necessarily have to close the smaller gaps between two materials to be joined before the riveting process. The VGrip™ with its strong clamping force securely joins the materials and closes the gaps (see graphic below)
  • 

• Residual mandrel locking
  • Everyone knows it, the clatter of a loose residual mandrel. There are various reasons why the remaining mandrel must not fall out after installation of the blind rivet. On the one hand it reduces the value of a product if something rattles inside, on the other hand it can be relevant to safety, for example in electrical engineering applications, that it must not fall into the interior of the application in order to avoid causing a short circuit.
  • With conventional blind rivets, the remaining mandrel is held in the rivet solely by the bead on the rivet head and the deformation on the rivet head. However, the remaining mandrel is not securely locked, e.g. if there are higher tolerances at the mandrel head and at the rivet sleeve, the remaining mandrel can fall out unhindered under vibration or impact effects.

• Due to its design/special mandrel geometry, the POP® VGrip™ features a mandrel locking system which secures the remaining mandrel even in highly vibrating applications and thus prevents it from falling out (see below picture)

• Rolled mandrel
  • To increase the service life of the jaws of the riveting tool, the mandrel is rolled in the tension area.

• Special introduction phase
  • A bevel at the mandrel head facilitates the insertion of the rivet into the rivet hole and thus shortens the processing time.

Interested?

Under the following link you can take a look at our current POP® blind rivet assortment and learn more about the POP® brand.

Rivet Technology

Or watch a video about the advantages of the VGrip™ system on Youtube under the following link.

Do you still have open questions about our POP® brand products or about other products in the riveting technology sector? Then write to us: ProvenProductivity@bossard.com

At Bossard, we continuously strive to achieve the highest levels of quality when it comes to our products and processes. Our customers count on us to deliver fasteners that are not only long-lasting but also safe.

Our commitment to high quality begins with a comprehensive series of steps to ensure that every product not only meets our uncompromising standards but also the stringent requirements and standards your company demands.

Selecting the Right Material

Choosing the right raw material is crucial for creating a quality fastener. While fasteners can be made from pure iron, adding carbon at the foundry vastly increases their strength, especially after undergoing heat treatment. We ensure our suppliers carefully consider fastener materials to ensure a strong and reliable product for a broad range of demanding applications.

Choosing Optimum Protection

Fasteners undergo heat treatment to increase their strength and provide long-lasting performance for demanding applications. In many cases, heat treatment is the only way for fasteners to achieve the mechanical properties our customers demand. Corrosion protection is also crucial for avoiding fastener failures due to rust and other forms of corrosion. By working with Bossard from the beginning of the product design process, we can help you carefully select the optimum protection needed for your fasteners and their intended applications.

Expert Testing

At our ten accredited test laboratories located throughout Europe, Asia, and America, Bossard uses state-of-the-art measuring and testing equipment to ensure that every product meets our elevated standards for quality assurance and production quality. The result is a global supplier you can trust to support your manufacturing operations with the flawless quality expected.

For more information about Bossard and our quality commitment, contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Adopting new ways of doing things always comes with some form of anxiety, especially when it involves changing the way your organization operates drastically. As technology marches forward, so does the need to remain competitive in an ever-changing environment. But change does not always have to be frightening. Take digitalization, for instance. Incorporating digitized processes into your production facility offers numerous benefits that ultimately make digitalization worth the effort.

Improved Productivity and Efficiency

Improvements in overall productivity and efficiency are one of the key benefits that digitalization offers. That means taking advantage of technologies that help streamline factory processes wherever possible. Bossard’s SmartBin technology takes B- and C-part management into the digital realm by providing a seamless method of monitoring and controlling materials movement. Using integrated weight sensors and wireless technology, SmartBin allows for automatic materials replenishment even at the point of use, eliminating wait times and unnecessary goods movements.

Improved Supply Chain Management

Digitalization can also help your supply chain become more transparent and flexible – a necessary trait for any factory willing to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced operational climate. Bossard’s Smart Factory Logistics is the perfect starting point for making your factory leaner and smarter. Smart Factory Logistics offers a portfolio of smart solutions designed to streamline every part of the supply chain, from intelligent labeling systems that deliver real-time order status and delivery dates to Kanban cards incorporating the latest in RFID technology for assembly line delivery. Bossard also offers custom solutions that can be tailored to fit your unique use cases.

Greater Cost Savings

Digitizing your factory also makes it more cost-effective to operate in the long run. By streamlining factory processes, gaining insights through data collected at various points of the entire supply chain, and promoting a more efficient workforce, digitalization helps lower costs while letting your factory gain a competitive edge.

Ready to move forward with digitalization with the help of our Smart Factory Logistics and SmartBin technology? Contact us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com today!

The global threat of COVID-19 continues to transform the way we interact with the world at large. The need for social distancing and other stringent precautions has driven many of our customers to adopt work-at-home for much of their workforce.

Employees at our customers working from home may not be able to access the same portfolio of resources they may have at the office. With that in mind, Bossard offers four powerful online resources you can explore and use for your engineering and design needs.

Technical Resources

You will find a wealth of technical information on our fastener technology, from conversion tables and hardness comparisons to general tolerances and mechanical properties for various fastener designs.

White Papers

Fasteners may seem simple, but the engineering and technology behind them is vastly complex. Bossard’s team of seasoned experts on fastener design and engineering have put together numerous white papers with thoroughly detailed, in-depth information on various fastener topics. Whether you want to know more about surface treatments for fasteners or how heat treatment affects mechanical strength and corrosion resistance, you will find that knowledge and more by checking out our white papers.

CAD Design Suite

To better guide your purchasing decisions, Bossard’s advanced CAD design tool provides 2-D, 3-D, and animated representations of our product catalog. You will also find additional smart features to further support your product and design choices.

Online Calculators

Bossard’s online calculators and converters make it easier for engineers, designers, technicians, and students to quickly convert different units of measure and perform other calculations. You can even download our online calculators and converters to your compatible Android or iOS smartphone in the form of a convenient app, putting a powerful tool at your fingertips no matter where you go. Explore Bossard’s online resources and email us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com with any questions, or for more information.

The terms “Industry 3.0” and “Industry 4.0” are quite common in manufacturing circles with the latter representing the next evolution in manufacturing. How Industry 4.0 relates to Industry 3.0 and its impact on production processes is the key topic in today’s blog post. 

Before Industry 4.0

So far, there have been four major revolutions in industrial output, starting with the first industrial revolution in the 18th century and the advent of water and steam as a revolutionizing force in mechanical production. The second industrial revolution of the 19th century brought electricity as the driving force behind mass production via the assembly line. The third industrial revolution, also known as Industry 3.0, harnessed advances in Information Technology and electronics to drive automate processes

Each Industrial Revolution followed with it an escalation in automation, culminating in the current state of autonomy. While the automated processes of Industry 3.0 operate largely without human input, they still rely on human controllers to facilitate certain functions essential for continued production. 

The Age of Industry 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution or “Industry 4.0” brings with it a quantum leap in automation and connectivity. By harnessing artificial intelligence, cloud computing, advanced robotics and other smart technologies capable of exchanging and interpreting big data, Industry 4.0 aims to transform manufacturing processes, resulting in reduced costs, increased productivity and improvements in efficiency.  

So, how can Industry 4.0 take your business to the next level? Bossard’s Smart Factory Logistics harnesses the Industrial Internet of Things to create a seamless, streamlined supply chain and logistics solution for your enterprise. With solutions like ARIMS and its ability to help you manage material flow in real-time, Smart Factory Logistics offers a clear roadmap for transforming your manufacturing processes. You can also count on Bossard’s team of seasoned specialists to customize and optimize your systems based on your specific needs. Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com and learn how Bossard’s Smart Factory Logistics can deliver impressive results for your company.

As a global leader in modern fastening technology, Bossard takes pride in perfecting its high-quality product solutions for your applications. While the Bossard product portfolio runs the gamut from multifunctional screws to self-clinching fasteners, these products are typically made using one of three methods: machining, cold forming, and hot forging.

Machining

Machining is the method of choice for creating non-standard fasteners in small quantities. The process starts with a round or hex bar placed on a lathe. Throughout the machining process, the required thread and shank geometry is machined from the bar while additional steps, including threading, drilling, and slotting, are taken to create the final product.

The machining process allows manufacturers to create precise fasteners with complex geometry and tight tolerances. The process is also time-consuming and wastes a lot of material, making it unsuitable for high-volume production.

Cold Forming

The most common method of creating standard fasteners is the cold forming process. This method starts with a coil of wire which is straightened and sheared to the appropriate length. The resulting blanks are then fed into a bolt maker and extruded through a series of dies, creating the proper geometry for the fasteners. The fastener heads are then shaped using a series of progressive dies while the external threads are formed on the shank using roll dies. 

Speed and reduced waste are two major advantages of the cold forming process. Manufacturers can produce thousands of parts per hour while minimizing costs associated with material waste. But the machines involved in the cold forming process take considerable time to set up, making small production runs unfeasible due to time and cost constraints.

Hot Forging

Hot forging is the go-to method for producing fasteners that can’t be produced via cold forming or machining, including fasteners with very large diameters or lengths. In this process, bar stock is partially heated to very high temperatures and then fed into a press that forms the head shape in one die. This process is often expensive and time-consuming, which is why it’s typically reserved for creating oversized parts. Have other questions about how fasteners are made? Contact us today at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com for more information.

One of the most common questions we hear at Bossard involves fastener reuse. While there are plenty of applications and scenarios where reusing existing fasteners makes sense, the answer isn’t always as straightforward. Depending on their application, fasteners can experience a broad range of external loads, making reuse an issue that requires careful consideration.

Simple Guidelines for Reuse

One major factor that determines a fastener’s reusability is its function. Before making your decision, consider these important questions:

• Will a joint failure pose any danger to people?
• Will a joint failure incur any significant costs?

If you’ve answered “yes” to either question, then you’re better off replacing the fastener in question instead of reusing it. Critical applications often require fasteners to carry a specific load achieved by a measured torque. Any damage to the threads or the surface finish could change the load amount transferred to the fastener when torqued to a specific value.

Contamination caused by dirt and debris or external lubrication can also change the specific loading, which could also result in problems later. Under these circumstances, using new fasteners prevents these issues from occurring by ensuring the fastener can achieve its proper loading.

If you’ve answered “no” to both questions mentioned above, then it’s possible to reuse the fastener in question. Before you reuse any fasteners, make sure the mating surfaces are clean and free of any damage or contamination before reinstallation. Always reinstall fasteners according to the manufacturer’s instructions, if applicable.

Common Cases for Fastener Reuse

Fastener reuse isn’t out of the ordinary for many applications. Take automobiles, for instance. Lug nuts are regularly reused on vehicle wheels without any ill effects. But this use case only works if they’re re-torqued properly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For instance, lug nuts often require re-tightening to the proper torque specification after 50 miles of driving.

To learn more about fastener reuse or if you have any more questions, get in touch with us at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.