Automotive Assembly - Articles - Page 321

Assembly Handbook: Blind Riveting

June 1, 2001

Whenever access is limited, blind rivets offer assemblers a unique way to see their way past fastening challenges. This article explains the advantages and limitations of blind rivets, and it reviews the various options for fasteners and installation equipment.

Adhesive Bonding

How to Use Formed-in-Place Gaskets

Compared with solid gaskets, formed-in-place gaskets have many advantages.

John Sprovieri

April 1, 2001

Compared with die-cut or molded gaskets, liquid gaskets have many design advantages. This article reviews the applications for these materials and tells how best to dispense them.

Fastening: How Tight Is Tight?

John Sprovieri

April 1, 2001

How you measure torque can affect your perception of how well your fastening tools perform. This article reviews methods for measuring the torque produced by a tool before, during and after fastening.

Capital Equipment Justification

Diane Hallum

March 1, 2001

The product has been designed, the assembly process laid out and the appropriate technologies selected. Now all you have to do is pitch the project to the person who signs the checks.

Assembly Automation

Process Planning Is Critical to Success of Assembly Automation Projects

John Sprovieri

March 1, 2001

Basic questions about the product have to be addressed before requests for quotations (RFQs) are issued for an assembly project.

Automotive Industry

Nylon Manifold Debuts on Light-Truck Engine

Plastic component helps Ford reduce vehicle weight.

March 1, 2001

North America's first multishell, vibration-welded intake manifold debuted on Ford's 5.4-liter, two-valve engines on the 1999 Ford F-series 150 and 250 light trucks, Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators. This manifold also marks the first use of Zytel welding-enhanced PA 6,6 nylon resin.

How to Evaluate Suppliers

March 1, 2001

Supplier evaluation is not an easy process. Many different formulas and techniques can be used. One effective method assigns suppliers to four basic categories based upon their level of performance in key areas, such as delivery, quality and responsiveness.

Impact Riveting: Using Loose Rivets

Austin Weber

February 1, 2001

Traditional rivets aren’t as common on plant floors as they once were. But, they’re still a cost-effective fastening alternative for many assembly applications.

Specialty Fasteners

Austin Weber

January 1, 2001

Nuts and bolt aren't the only types of fasteners used in product assembly. Retaining rings, Speed Nuts and a variety of other specialized metal and plastic fasteners have been developed. These specialty fasteners can often save time in the assembly process, eliminate the need for additional fastening components, lower manufacturing costs and maximize holding power.

Test and Inspection

Advanced Leak Test Methods

Hemi Sagi

January 1, 2001

LEAK TESTING IS AN engineering challenge. On one hand, engineers must meet stricter leak rate standards. On the other, they have to make the leak testing process less costly and less dependent on operator skill. To meet this dilemma, engineers must understand all aspects of the leak testing process.