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Home » Fastening Threads: Problems Solved
Fastening ThreadsColumnsScrewdriving and Riveting Assembly

Fastening Threads: Problems Solved

Fastening Threads
May 1, 2012
David Archer
KEYWORDS angle control / fastening problems / screwdriver / torque
Reprints

Bolted joints are the vast majority of our consulting business. Our work is divided evenly between validating joints under development and troubleshooting problems with existing joints. Our troubleshooting experience led us to develop the matrix below to help engineers solve common problems with bolted joints.

Distilling even the most common problems and solutions into the confines of this column requires simplification that may invite critical judgment from veteran hands. Our experience is that many engineers could benefit from reviewing the relationship between a problem and its likely underlying causes.

One assumption inherent in the matrix is that the joints are fastened with a power tool capable of accurate and repeatable shut-off, such that operator influence is unlikely. Note that angle of rotation is listed as a problem, though only a subset of controlled tools can report angle. Thread strip, bolt failure and high prevailing torque are easily detected with any type of tool. However, they represent extreme problems.

Knowing the angle required to rotate the fastener from a known and repeatable starting point to the target torque provides insight into joint conditions between those extremes. Angle of rotation governs the clamp load, and that, in turn, determines the reliability of most joints.

While not as convenient or accurate as an integral angle encoder, rotation angle can be determined manually by match-marking. Such manual measurements are not done on every joint, so problems caused by clamp load being outside the expected range are not realized until product is in the field. This is one of the main drivers in the expanded use of sensored tools.

       Common Installation Problems with Threaded Fasteners

 

Problem Root Cause Thread Type More Likely Causes Less Likely Causes
Thread strip or bolt failure Reduced resistance, often due to lower friction

Free-running 

Thread-forming, cutting

Hardware friction, joint friction

Hardware friction, hole size, joint friction

Joint parallellism, faulty tool shut-off
High prevailing torque

 

Interference between threads

 

 

 

Free-running

Thread-forming, cutting

Coating thickness, thread nicks, cross-threading

Hole size, thread nicks, cross-threading

Joint misalignment, joint parallellism

Coating thickness, joint misalignment,

joint parallellism

High angle of rotation Less resistance due to lower friction, interference or joint stiffness

Free-running

Thread forming, cutting

Hardware friction, joint friction, hole size, joint friction Joint parallellism, faculty took shut-off
Low angle of rotation More resistance due to higher frtiction or interference

Free-running

Thread-forming, cutting

Hardware friction, hole size, joint friction

Hardware friction, holse size, joint friction

Coating thickness, joint misalignment, joint parallellism, faulty took shut-off

Coating thickness, thread nicks, joint misalignment, joint parallellism, faulty tool shut-off

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Recent Articles by David Archer

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President
Archetype Joint LLC, Orion, MI

Archetype joint specializes in joint design, testing and validation.

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