The Increasing Demand For Micro Fastenings

Micro fastenings are very small screws which are used in very small products, such as computer hardware, medical equipment, glasses, watches and phones. These exceptionally small fasteners can serve as practical, cost-effective, and permanently secure solutions, enabling quicker assembly of devices ranging from hand held consumer electronics to medical equipment. Therefore as technology develops in these areas, so does the need for reliable micro fastenings to service these industries.

What is available?

This is a market that is growing extremely rapidly. Current trends suggest increasing demands for smaller and thinner products to meet the needs of advancing technology. Typically most specialist suppliers stock sizes from M1 to M3 with various lengths to accompany these sizes. However, it is possible to supply both 0.6 and 0.8mm if there is a need, subject to the volume being cost effective to produce.

Several self-clinching micro fastener styles have been designed that fit particularly well in hand-held and other wireless devices. Threaded versions, such as self-clinching micro standoffs, can provide strong, permanent, and reusable load-bearing threads in metal sheets as thin as 0.40mm. Thread sizes have been developed as small as M1.0 and fastener lengths range between 2mm and 3mm. Non threaded fastener types, for example self-clinching micro pilot pins, can be utilised as posts or pilots for locating, positioning, and alignment applications and can be installed in panels as thin as 0.5mm.

The screws are available in slotted, socket, recessed and six lobe recess head types. They are typically made out of stainless steel and brass, although increasingly titanium is becoming more popular due to its very light weight and high strength.

Specialists in this area are able to supply to all recognized standards such as DIN, ISO, ANS and JIS and should also have the capability to produce screws from customer specific drawings.

The manufacturing process:

The methods used to make micro fastenings are either by cold forging from cold forming wire, using a single- or multi- spindle machine or by using CNC computer controlled lathes out of hexagon or round bar. There are lots of further secondary processes which are then used to ensure that the screw achieves quality standards.

As technology continues to develop, demand worldwide for such specialised products is increasing in all materials and sizes. Established specialty micro fastening companies are ideally placed to meet increasing demands and to supply these increased volumes.

Source: Author Amma Holding discusses micro fastening solutions. For more information and to view the options for micro fastenings visit our website.

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(Image Credit – NewStar Fasteners )

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