In modern manufacturing, especially in transportation, lighter is the becoming the new standard. Vehicles that aren’t as heavy tend to get better mileage and fuel efficiency (including getting more from the charge on electric vehicles), are better for the environment, reduce structural fatigue, and can even improve performance. Increasingly, manufacturers are deciding lightweight manufacturing is smart business.
The weight-saving measures in modern manufacturing usually come in the form of reducing the amount of material used. However, not all materials are created equal and there is a lot more to gain by switching to lighter materials than there is by using less. Lighter materials can also be used as building block for composite structures, which significantly reduce weight and cost.
According to Assembly Magazine’s 2018 State of the Profession Survey, 48% of respondents are using lightweight materials in their work. This is up from 37% for 2017 and the trend is clear: Lightweight materials are preferred.
Fasteners are one area in which manufacturers can adopt a lightweight strategy during production. But what type of fasteners are light enough for your application? This article hope to help answer that question.
The Challenge of Reducing Weight of Fasteners
Lightweight manufacturing is more complex than simply using lighter materials. Challenges exist in 3 core scenarios:
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Lightweight applications require additional engineering to ensure performance, structural integrity, product safety and durability are not compromised.
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One design consideration is the assembly process. The material weight will likely be different and may require you to use different welding procedures. This could also require extra training for employees on the line.
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Weighting less than a heavier material, lightweight versions may be more expensive. On top of that, they might also require specific manufacturing processes to produce.
Manufacturers are facing tough challenges, but many of them see the long-term benefits of lightweight manufacturing worth overcoming these issues.
Examples of Lightweight Materials
Lightweight manufacturing is taking off and the industry has seen a surge in the use of various alternate materials. One of these is steel which has been sidelined for lighter applications. Other materials that are being used instead includes:
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Aluminum and aluminum alloys
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Titanium
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Nylon
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Magnesium
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Carbon fiber
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High-strength steel
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Glass fiber
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Plastic
Reducing the weight of a car by 10 percent can improve fuel economy by 6-8 percent. But for a 3,000-pound car, finding 300 pounds to eliminate from a total weight becomes difficult. Lighter materials are also imperative to reducing vehicle weight. Finding lighter material also becomes difficult with every reduction on the market, which is why this strategy could be viable long term.
Why Choose Lightweight Fasteners
Traditional steel fasteners are usually strong and durable, but this doesn’t grant them an advantage over the use of lightweight fasteners. In fact, these lightweights can be strong and durable as well.
Aluminum and aluminum alloy fasteners are about as strong as steel, but have a much lower weight. They are highly resistant to corrosion and come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and functions.
Implementation of Lightweight Screws / Fasteners
When you want to use lightweight screws on your assembly lines, it takes workers a bit of time to adjust since they’re not used to using these type of screws. But the training isn’t too difficult and it is well worth the effort in the end. When we talk about lightweight fasteners, the transition will be dependent on other parts of the full assembly not mentioning steel fasteners. For example, how the finished application might be different than the earlier version.
Different types of building materials can have different weight capacities and strengths. But it’s reassuring to know that there’s a range of light-weight, strong fasteners available that perform really well in most applications. With lightweight fasteners, you can deliver real benefits to your manufacturing process as well as provide a better experience for the people who buy products.
Closing
Explore our vast catalogue of lightweight fasteners here. We have everything from screws, nuts and bolts available for purchase. There are many online stores that provide these types of screws, but they may not be the best option because they tend to be more expensive than buying them in person. A better option is to check with ANT Industrial that specializes in these type of products.
Visit our online store at https://ant-ind.com/ant-shop