Integral Mechanical Attachment, 1st Edition

Key Features

* 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

Description

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.

Readership

Professional Engineers in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, and Civil Engineering, particularly those involved with designs for assembly of components and product manufacturing.
Manufacturing and Industrial Engineers who are interested in new forms of product design and assembly
Manufacturers of traditional and non-traditional fasteners and joining systems;
Plastics Engineers, Ceramics Engineers, Metallurgists, and general Materials Engineers
Upper Undergraduate and First-year Graduate students in Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Materials Engineering

Integral Mechanical Attachment, 1st Edition

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction to Integral Mechanical Attachment
1.1 The Oldest Method of Joining: Using Natural Shapes and Forms
1.2 The Process Evolves: But Not Much!
1.3 Integral Attachment: A Form of Mechanical Joining
1.4 Integral Mechanical Attachment vs. Mechanical Fastening and Fasteners
1.5 Advantages of Integral Attachment
1.6 Potential Shortcomings of Integral Attachment
1.7 Summary

Chapter 2: Classification of Integral Mechanical Attachment
2.1 Why Classify Methods at All?
2.2 Integral Attachment’s Place within the Taxonomy of Joining Methods
2.3 A Classification Scheme for Integral Mechanical Attachments Based on Feature Character or Operation
2.4 An Alternative Classification Scheme Based on Method of Feature or Joint Creation
2.5 Rigid vs. Elastic Integral Attachment Methods
2.6 Forces and Motions Necessary to Assemble Rigid or Elastic Attachments
2.7 Plastic Attachment Methods
2.8 Attachment Methods vs. Materials: Is It That Simple?
2.9 Summary

Chapter 3: Rigid Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks
3.1 How Rigid Interlocks Work
3.2 Sub-classification Schemes for Rigid Interlocks
3.3 Completely Rigid Interlocking Joint Elements
3.4 Integral Rigid Locking Features
3.5 Integral Rigid Attachment Features
3.6 Rigid Couplings and Connectors
3.7 Embedded Rigid Fasteners
3.8 Rigid Locating Features (Locators) for Elastic Snap-fit Assembly
3.9 Joint and Attachment Feature Permanency
3.10 Summary

Chapter 4: Elastic (Snap-fit) Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks
4.1 How Elastic (Snap-fit) Interlocks Work
4.2 Sub-classification of Elastic Snap-fit Attachments or Interlocks
4.3 Cantilever Hooks and Cantilevered Holes
4.4 Compressive Traps and Beams
4.5 Annular, Leaf-spring, and Window Snaps
4.6 Post-and-socket Snaps
4.7 Bayonet-finger Snaps
4.8 Combining Assembly Motions
4.9 Hooks-and-Loops
4.10 Other Elastic Attachment Methods
4.11 Joint Enhancements
4.12 Summary

Chapter 5: Plastic (Formed-in) Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks
5.1 How Plastic (Formed-in) Interlocks Work
5.2 Sub-classification of Plastic (Formed-in) Interlocks
5.3 Formed Tabs
5.4 Formed or Co-formed Features or Structures
5.5 Crimping and Hemming
5.6 Staking or Setting [including in glass and plastics, with thermal staking]
5.7 Other Plastic Attachment Methods [Tog-L-Loks and Lance-N-Loks]
5.8 Summary

Chapter 6: Classification Revisited
6.1 Comparison of Methods: Relative Advantages & Disadvantages
6.2 A Taxonomy of Integral Attachment Methods
6.3 Summary

Chapter 7: Metal Attachments
7.1 Properties of Metals that Facilitate Integral Mechanical Attachment
7.2 Sheet-metal Attachment Schemes and Attachments
7.3 Cast Attachments
7.4 Extrusion Attachment Schemes and Attachments
7.5 Forging Attachment Schemes and Attachments
7.6 Machined Attachments
7.7 Summary

Chapter 8: Polymer Attachments
8.1 Properties of Polymers that Facilitate Integral Mechanical Attachment
8.2 Molded-in Integral Attachments
8.3 Molded-in-place Inserts for Attachment or Fastening
8.4 Processed-in Attachments [thermally bonded stakes]
8.5 Rubber Connections
8.6 Summary

Chapter 9: Wood Attachments
9.1 Properties of Wood that Facilitate Integral Attachment
9.2 Corner Joints
9.3 T-joints
9.4 Splice Joints
9.5 Joint Enhancements
9.6 Summary

Chapter 10: Cement, Concrete, and Masonry-unit Attachments
10.1 Properties of Cement, Concrete, and Masonry Units that Facilitate Attachment
10.2 Pre-cast Integral Attachment Features
10.3 Cast-in (Embedded) Attachments
10.4 Natural or Cut-in Features for Attachment of Masonry Units
10.5 Summary

Chapter 11: Glass and Ceramic Attachments
11.1 Properties of Glass that Favor Attachment
11.2 Glass-to-Glass Joining vs. Glass-Metal Mechanical Seals
11.3 Glass-Metal Mechanical Seals
11.4 Properties of Ceramics that Favor Attachment
11.5 Cast or Molded Attachments in Ceramics
11.6 Cast-in (Embedded) Attachments in Ceramics
11.7 Summary

Chapter 12: Mechanical Electrical Connections
12.1 Demands of Electrical Connections that Favor Mechanical Attachment
12.2 Electrical Attachment Schemes and Attachments
12.3 Mechanical Attachments in Microelectronics
12.4 High-current Electric Power Mechanical Connections
12.5 Summary

Chapter 13: The Future of Integral Mechanical Attachment: Where from Here?
13.1 Joining Methods Must Advance as Materials and Structures Advance
13.2 Moving to Higher Performance Attachments
13.3 Moving to Smaller Scale Attachments [self-assembly in MEMS]
13.4 Moving to Biomedical Attachments
13.5 Integral Mechanical Attachment and Hostile Environments
13.6 Closing Thoughts

Index