Posted to News on 17th Jul 2006, 00:00
Fasteners pass extreme tests
Direct fastener technology is gaining increasing importance, particularly in the automotive industry. Thread-forming screws are particularly advantageous when used to join plastic parts together. Investigations carried out by the IFBW (the Vehicle Construction Institute at Wolfsburg, Germany) have shown that this type of screw has mastered the balancing act between cost and quality.
The principle of direct screwing is that, as it is screwed in, the screw takes over some of the steps of the manufacturing process that, in conventional manufacturing, would need to be carried out as separate work procedures. As the screw is screwed in, a gimlet incorporated into the tip first forms the appropriate through-hole diameter, after which the screw taps into the bore thread with its own thread.
There is no need to drill the hole and cut the thread, so less assembly time is required.
