Assembly Planbook - July 2008 - (Page 47)

rolled onto the fastener. Large-diameter fasteners—from 0.25 inch on up— are ideal candidates for water-based adhesives. There are exceptions. Some water-based adhesives can lock small screws, and some solvent-based epoxies work on larger screws. When minimal locking strength is required, mechanical thread-lockers are the first choice. Nylon is also the least expensive thread-locking material. How much thread-locker to apply depends on the strength requirements of the joint. For optimum locking, the thread-locker should be applied in a band at least as wide as the diameter of the fastener. In other words, if the fastener is 0.25 inch in diameter, the coated area should be 0.25 inch long. A good rule of thumb is to apply as much adhesive as the thickness of the mating nut. If the fastener is going into a tapped hole, vary the width of the adhesive as necessary for maximum locking strength. Each thread of adhesive will add to the locking strength of the joint. When preapplied to a fastener, chemical thread-lockers are supplied as microencapsulated beads embedded in a resin. When the fastener is installed, the beads break, releasing the adhesive and initiating the curing process. Testing Thread-Lockers Testing is critical to providing a quality product, and most applicators provide testing services to ensure that the right thread-locker has been chosen. The number of fasteners tested varies, and the process takes only a couple of days. Once production begins, the applicator will usually test a few fasteners pulled at random from different batches, just to ensure that the threadlocker and the coating process meet IFI, automotive or customer standards. Since most mating parts are too large ROBOTIC END EFFECTORS The ATI Collision Sensor with standard auto reset. Because downtime is never an option. Energy Absorbing Piston Spring Channel—optional spring allows for two trip points, with or without air Stem, Cam, and Reset Spheres—engineered by ATI from hardened tool steel for precision auto-reset performance Sensitivity Adjustment Screw— adjusts sensitivity to fit a wide range of applications The Collision Sensor prevents end-effector damage from robotic crashes and reduces downtime by automatically resetting to within 0.001 inches of pre-crash position. • New tool steel construction for maximum durability and strength • Variable-adjust sensitivity settings for crash detection • Optional spring for tripping with or without air • Compliant in X, Y and Z axes www.ati-ia.com 919.772.0115 www.assemblymag.com July 2008 / ASSE M B LY 47 http://www.ati-ia.com http://www.assemblymag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Assembly Planbook - July 2008

Assembly Planbook - July 2008 Contents Editorial Quality in Assembly Station to Station Assembly Lines Assembly in Action Surviving the Roller Coaster The Human Side of Manufacturing Do Your Fasteners Need a Preapplied Thread-Locker? Manufacturing Innovation A Century of Progress Trendsetting Plants Pulse Tools Get Smart Plastics: Design for X Product Reviews Products Advertisers Index Classified Leading Lean

Assembly Planbook - July 2008

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