Blog - Page 5 of 8 - Fasten.one

21 Nov, 2025

Fastener Manufacturer Audit Checklist for Automotive and General Manufacturing

November 21, 2025|Quality|

This comprehensive audit checklist is designed for procurement engineers, quality managers, and supplier development teams. It covers three main audit areas for a fastener manufacturing facility serving automotive and general manufacturing industries: (1) Quality Management System audits (ISO 9001, IATF 16949), (2) Technical Capability audits (manufacturing processes like forging, cold heading, heat treatment, plating, thread rolling), and (3) Supplier Qualification audits. Each section lists key inspection points to ensure process control, traceability, certifications, defect prevention, inspection/testing, calibration, and proper packaging/logistics. 1. Quality Management System (QMS) Audit Checklist Certification & Standards: [...]

21 Nov, 2025

Self-Tapping and Thread-Forming Screw Engagement: Mechanisms, Torque, and Application Guide

November 21, 2025|Fastener|

Self-tapping and thread-forming screws are widely used to join parts without pre-tapped holes. These fasteners are categorized by their point and thread geometry, which determines how they engage the material (either cutting/chipping or displacing material). Common types include Type A (coarse thread, pointed), Type B (fine thread, blunt), Type AB (combination of A and B), and Type 25/BT (chip-cutting point for plastics), as well as advanced thread-forming designs like Taptite, Plastite, Hi-Lo (double-lead), and EJOT PT® screws. This report explains how each type works, compares their performance (torque-to-strip ratios, thread [...]

19 Nov, 2025

Metric Thread Tolerance Classes Made Simple: Guide for Engineers and Designers

November 19, 2025|Fastener|

What Are Metric Thread Tolerance Classes? Metric thread tolerance classes are a standardized way to specify how tightly or loosely a bolt and nut will fit together. If you’ve seen designations like “M10 x 1.5 – 6H/6g”, those last characters (6H/6g) are the tolerance classes for the internal thread (nut) and external thread (bolt). In simple terms: Tolerance classes ensure compatibility: They control the allowed variation in thread size so that any bolt of a given class will fit any nut of the matching class. Prevent jamming or wobbling: By [...]

18 Nov, 2025

The Metallurgy of Titanium Fasteners: How Alloy Chemistry Drives Aerospace Performance

November 18, 2025|Material|

Introduction Titanium alloy fasteners are integral to modern aerospace engineering, offering a unique combination of high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance. In critical applications ranging from airframe assembly to engine components, titanium alloy fasteners for aerospace structures help reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. This whitepaper explores how specific titanium alloy grades – especially the ones most commonly used in aerospace fasteners – deliver exceptional performance. We focus on the metallurgical aspects: how alloy chemistry (e.g. aluminum, vanadium, oxygen content) influences phase composition (alpha, beta) and microstructure, and how [...]

17 Nov, 2025

A Practical Guide to PPAP for Fasteners

November 17, 2025|Quality|

Introduction to PPAP for Fasteners The Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) is a standardized quality framework originally developed by the automotive industry to ensure that a supplier can meet a customer's engineering design requirements consistently in mass production. In simpler terms, PPAP is a comprehensive checklist and approval process that verifies both the part design and the manufacturing process are sound before full-scale production begins. While PPAP applies to many components, it is especially critical for fasteners – the bolts, screws, rivets, and other hardware that literally hold products together. [...]

15 Nov, 2025

Distortion Control in Quenching of High-Strength Alloy Bolts (Class 10.9 & 12.9)

November 15, 2025|Production|

Distortion Mechanisms in Bolt Quenching Quenching of high-strength alloy bolts generates large internal stresses that can exceed the material’s yield strength, causing plastic deformation (warping, bending or twisting). Three primary stress sources contribute: residual stresses (from forging, forming, cold work or machining), thermal stresses (from steep temperature gradients during rapid cooling), and transformation stresses (from martensitic phase change). For example, as steel cools, outer layers solidify and shrink while the still-hot core expands or transforms to martensite with an ~2–4% volume increase. This mismatch creates bending moments in slender bolts [...]

15 Nov, 2025

Bolt Fatigue Analysis and Life Prediction: Theory, Preload Effects, and Best Practices

November 15, 2025|Engineering|

Mechanical engineers must rigorously assess fatigue life in bolted joints to prevent the most common failure mode in structural connections. This comprehensive whitepaper reviews the fundamental fatigue theory and its application to bolted joints, compares analytical and finite-element (FEA) approaches for bolt fatigue analysis, and details factors influencing bolt durability. We examine how preload, joint stiffness, and thread geometry affect stress distribution, describe typical fatigue failure modes (e.g. under-torque, over-torque, bending), and conclude with best practices and design guidelines to improve fatigue life in fasteners. Fundamental Fatigue Theory S-N Curves [...]

14 Nov, 2025

Metric Thread Pitch Chart with Inch Equivalents (M1–M100)

November 14, 2025|Fastener|

The table below lists ISO metric screw thread sizes from M1 up to M100. For each size it gives the standard coarse and fine thread pitches (in millimeters). The “Nearest Inch Thread Size” column shows the closest common Unified thread (UNC/UNF) nominal size for reference. If no direct UNC/UNF equivalent exists, it is marked “N/A”. (Fine-pitch variants are blank where none are defined.) Metric Thread: Nominal diameter (M#) in millimeters. Coarse/Fine Pitch: Standard ISO metric pitch in millimeters. Inch Equivalent: Closest Unified nominal size (e.g. 1/4-20 UNC) or N/A if [...]

14 Nov, 2025

Composite and Plastic Fasteners: Technical Performance, Cost-Effectiveness, and Industry Applications

November 14, 2025|Material|

Introduction Composite and plastic fasteners are increasingly essential components in modern engineering assemblies. These fasteners – which include screws, bolts, nuts, washers, and specialized connectors made from polymer materials or fiber-reinforced composites – offer a unique blend of properties for demanding applications. In situations where lightweight construction, corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation are critical, plastic-based fasteners have become a strategic choice rather than a compromise. Engineers across aerospace, electronics, automotive, medical, and other industries are turning to composite and plastic fasteners to achieve significant reductions in weight, eliminate corrosion issues, [...]

13 Nov, 2025

Cut Threads vs Rolled Threads: Key Differences and Application Considerations for Manufacturers

November 13, 2025|Production|

Introduction Threads are the critical helical grooves that allow fasteners to be mated together, and the method by which those threads are created can significantly impact a fastener’s performance and manufacturability. In industrial fastener production, there are two primary ways to form threads: cut threading and rolled threading. Cut threads are produced by machining away material, whereas rolled threads are formed by deforming the material without removing it. Each method has distinct advantages and trade-offs, influencing the strength, durability, cost, and suitability of the resulting threaded part. Manufacturing professionals must [...]