Integral mechanical attachment : a resurgence of the oldest method of joining

Integral Mechanical Attachment, highlights on one of the world's oldest technologies and makes it new again. Think of buttons and toggles updated to innovative snaps, hooks, and interlocking industrial parts. Mechanical fasteners have been around as long as mankind, but manufacturers of late have been re-discovering their quick, efficient and fail proof advantages when using them as interlocking individual components as compared with such traditional means of joining materials like welding, soldering, gluing and using nuts bolts, rivets and other similar devices. For many years, it has been virtually impossible to find a single-source reference that provides an overview of the various categories of fastening systems and their various applications. Design engineers should find this book to be an invaluable source of detailed, illustrated information on how such fasteners work, and how they can save time and money. Students, too, will find this book to be extremely useful for courses in mechanical design, machine design, product development and other related areas where fastening and joining subjects are taught. This will be the first reference book to come along in many years that will fully illustrate the major classes of integral mechanical fasteners, replete with examples of typical assembly and ideas and suggestions for further research. * Covers all major techniques for integral mechanical attachment within the context of other types of joining including chemical (adhesive) bonding, melting and solidification (welding, soldering, brazing), and mechanical joining (fasteners and part features)* Includes specific chapters for particular attachment considerations by materials type, including metals, plastics, ceramics, glass, wood, and masonry* Provides unique coverage of mechanical/electrical connections for reliable contact and use Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 1.1 The Oldest Method of Joining: Using Natural Shapes and Forms......Page 20 1.2 The Process Evolves, But Not Much!......Page 22 1.3 Integral Attachment: A Form of Mechanical Joining......Page 25 1.4 Integral Mechanical Attachment vs. Mechanical Fastening and Fasteners......Page 29 1.5 Advantages of Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 37 1.6 Potential Shortcomings of Integral Attachment......Page 40 1.7 Summary......Page 43 References......Page 44 2.1 Why Classify Things at All?......Page 46 2.2 Integral Attachment’s Place Within the Taxonomy of Joining Processes and Methods......Page 47 2.3 A Classification Scheme for Integral Attachments Based on Feature Character or Operation......Page 52 2.4 An Alternative Classification Scheme Based on Method of Feature or Joint Creation......Page 55 2.5 Rigid Versus Elastic Integral Attachment Methods......Page 57 2.6 Forces and Motions for Assembly of Rigid and Elastic Interlocks......Page 62 2.7 Plastic Attachment Methods......Page 66 2.8 Attachment Methods Versus Materials: Is It That Simple?......Page 69 References......Page 71 3.1 How Rigid Interlocks Work......Page 74 3.2 Sub-Classification Schemes for Rigid Interlocks......Page 76 3.3 Completely Rigid Interlocking Joint Elements or Completely Rigid Joints......Page 79 3.4 Integral Rigid Locking Features......Page 88 3.5 Integral Rigid Attachment Features......Page 99 3.6 Embedded Rigid Fasteners......Page 102 3.7 Rigid Couplings and Connectors......Page 105 3.8 Rigid Locating Features (or Locators) for Elastic Snap-Fit Assembly......Page 111 3.9 Joint and Attachment Feature Permanency......Page 112 3.10 Summary......Page 114 References......Page 120 4.1 How Elastic Interlocks Work......Page 122 4.2 Sub-Classification of Elastic Interlocks......Page 124 4.3 Elastic Integral Snap-Fits Used in Assembly of Plastic Parts......Page 126 4.4 Design Analysis for Snap-Fits......Page 140 4.5 Combining Assembly Motions for Snap-Fit Assembly Security......Page 142 4.6 Snap-Fit Feature Enhancements......Page 146 4.7 Hook-and-Loop Attachments......Page 150 4.8 Other Elastic Attachment Methods......Page 152 4.9 Summary......Page 158 References......Page 160 5.1 How Plastic (Formed-In) Interlocks Work......Page 162 5.2 Sub-Classification of Plastic (Formed-In) Interlocks......Page 165 5.3 Setting and Staking......Page 166 5.4 Metal Stitching and Metal Clinching......Page 167 5.5 Indentation-Type and Beaded-Assembly-Type Joints......Page 173 5.6 Crimping and Hemming......Page 174 5.7 Thermal Staking......Page 175 5.8 Formed Tabs......Page 178 5.9 Summary......Page 181 References......Page 183 6.1 Comparison of Methods: Relative Advantages and Disadvantages......Page 184 6.2 Classification of Integral Mechanical Attachment Methods......Page 187 6.3 Correlations Between Joint Materials and Attachment Methods......Page 189 6.4 Summary......Page 190 7.1 Properties of Metals That Facilitate Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 196 7.2 Sheet-Metal Attachment Schemes and Attachments......Page 204 7.3 Casting Attachment Schemes and Attachments......Page 221 7.4 Extrusion Attachment Schemes and Attachments......Page 223 7.6 Machined Attachments......Page 225 7.7 Summary......Page 228 Bibliography......Page 230 8.1 Properties of Polymers That Facilitate Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 232 8.2 Molded-In Integral Attachments......Page 240 8.3 Fastening and Molded-In and Other Inserts for Joining Plastic Parts......Page 241 8.4 Processed-In Attachments......Page 247 8.5 Rubber Connections......Page 248 8.6 Summary......Page 253 References......Page 256 9.1 Introduction to the Joining of Ceramics, Glasses, and Glass-Ceramics......Page 258 9.2 Properties of Ceramics That Favor Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 266 9.3 Cast, Molded, and Compacted Attachments in Ceramics......Page 270 9.4 Embedded or Inserted Attachments in Ceramics......Page 271 9.5 Properties of Glasses That Facilitate Mechanical Attachment......Page 272 9.6 Glass-to-Glass Joining Versus Glass-to-Metal Joining......Page 277 9.7 Mechanical Methods for Glass-to-Glass Joining......Page 278 9.8 Glass-Metal Seals......Page 280 9.9 Mechanical Glass-Metal Seals......Page 284 9.10 Summary......Page 294 References......Page 295 10.1 Introduction to Cement, Concrete, and Masonry Units......Page 298 10.2 Properties of Concrete and Masonry Units That Facilitate Mechanical Attachment......Page 299 10.3 Pre-Cast Integral Attachment Features......Page 303 10.4 Embedded and Inserted Fastening Attachments......Page 309 10.5 Natural Shapes or Cut-In (Hewn) Shapes for Integral Mechanical Interlocking Stone Masonry Units......Page 315 10.6 Summary......Page 320 References......Page 321 11.1 Introduction to Wood as a Material......Page 322 11.2 Properties of Wood That Facilitate Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 324 11.3 Engineered Wood Products......Page 330 11.4 General Options for Joining Wood......Page 332 11.5 Wood Joinery......Page 334 11.6 Enhancements for Integral Rigid Interlocks......Page 348 11.7 Integral Fasteners Used with Wood and Engineered Wood Products......Page 351 11.8 Summary......Page 352 Bibliography......Page 354 12.1 Demands of Electrical Connections That Favor Mechanical Attachment......Page 356 12.2 Options for Making Electrical Connections......Page 359 12.3 Soldered Electrical Connections......Page 366 12.4 Mechanical Pressure Electrical Connections......Page 367 12.5 Mechanical Attachments in Microelectronics......Page 372 12.7 Summary......Page 376 Bibliography......Page 379 13.1 What Has Changed? What Is Changing?......Page 380 13.2 Joining Methods Must Advance as Materials and Structures Advance......Page 388 13.3 What are the Likely Changes to be Expected or That Need to Occur?......Page 391 13.4 Moving to Larger Scale Applications of Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 393 13.5 Moving to Smaller Scale Applications of Integral Mechanical Attachment......Page 398 13.6 Moving to Higher Performance of Integral Mechanical Attachments......Page 404 13.7 Integral Attachment in Biotechnology......Page 406 13.8 Integral Mechanical Attachments in Hostile Environments......Page 408 13.10 Closing Thoughts......Page 411 References......Page 412 Appendix A......Page 414 Appendix B......Page 415 Index......Page 420 Integral Mechanical Attachment, highlights on one of the world’s oldest technologies and makes it new again. Think of buttons and toggles updated to innovative snaps, hooks, and interlocking industrial parts. Mechanical fasteners have been around as long as mankind, but manufacturers of late have been re-discovering their quick, efficient and fail proof advantages when using them as interlocking individual components as compared with such traditional means of joining materials like welding, soldering, gluing and using nuts bolts, rivets and other similar devices.

For many years, it has been virtually impossible to find a single-source reference that provides an overview of the various categories of fastening systems and their various applications. Design engineers should find this book to be an invaluable source of detailed, illustrated information on how such fasteners work, and how they can save time and money. Students, too, will find this book to be extremely useful for courses in mechanical design, machine design, product development and other related areas where fastening and joining subjects are taught. This will be the first reference book to come along in many years that will fully illustrate the major classes of integral mechanical fasteners, replete with examples of typical assembly and ideas and suggestions for further research.

* Covers all major techniques for integral mechanical attachment within the context of other types of joining including chemical (adhesive) bonding, melting and solidification (welding, soldering, brazing), and mechanical joining (fasteners and part features)
* Includes specific chapters for particular attachment considerations by materials type, including metals, plastics, ceramics, glass, wood, and masonry
* Provides unique coverage of mechanical/electrical connections for reliable contact and use