Fastener Insertion
ABOUT THE FASTENER JOINING TECHNOLOGY:
Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF) or Functional elements are special fasteners/elements which are designed to be formed and joined with various sheet metals to form a permanent joint. It requires a precise pressing machine with the punch and dies suitable for the elements.
- Quality control using non-destructive testing of bottom thickness and outside diameter with gauges, and online process monitoring
- Cost-effective method for the joining of austenitic stainless steel
DISADVANTAGES OF TRADITIONAL JOINING METHOD-WELDING
• Reduced Dynamic strength of joint- Due to localized heating there are thermal stresses developed around the element.
• Need to clean the welded area post joining process. Additional operation adds labor cost and time.
• Non-feasibility of Quality inspection- No geometrical method of inspection possible.
• Fume generation- Demands for proper fume extraction process around the welding area to meet safe environmental standards.
• Thin sheet usage – burn out of base material making it impossible to make a welding joint.
• Distortion of overall geometry- Uneven heating resulting in a difference in temperature and thermal distortion around the welded area spoils the surface geometry of the whole part & fitment.
• Loss of Aesthetics- In some cases due to dis-coloration there will be a need to re-coat the welded area.
• Feasibility to use high strength/hybrid/composite material -Limitation of welding process due to material properties.
ADVANTAGES OF MECHANICALLY ATTACHED FASTENERS (MAF)
1) Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF), provide a clean, cost-effective, and high-performing alternative to weld fasteners for virtually any automotive structural application, including those within the upper body, underbody, closures, EV battery trays, and truck chassis.
2) Because the fasteners are joined to the application mechanically, they can be installed in the in-die process, which eliminates the need for a secondary operation and reduces operating costs.
3) The elements can be automatically fed till the pressing location and joining operation can be completely automated using a robot. Either part can be moved or the pressing tong using the robot. Elements can be oriented in a specific direction using various feeding systems.
4) Joint strength can be validated by destructive testing to check the Torque and Pushout/Pull out strengths required for the application. The same can be ensured by monitoring the pressing force and depth for each fastener using various monitoring equipment.
WHAT WE DO
Onbotics can provide the following solutions for joining the Mechanically Attached Fasteners (MAF).
• We can study the fastener type, joining technology, strength requirements and recommend a suitable tool, machine, and automation solutions.
• We can provide process monitoring systems that will enhance your quality assurance of joined elements to avoid unwanted failures and uncertainties in your production process.
• We can supply standalone systems with manual loading/unloading of elements and parts for smaller parts with a lesser volume of production.
• We can supply a completely automated system with automatic feeding of elements, automatic positioning of part/tong using the robot to clinch the elements.
