Fasteners - The Design Engineer's Application Guide
Our fasteners are designed to work for just about every application.
However, in certain instances, a particular screw, nut, washer or rivet is the ideal choice for your task. To help you choose the fastener you need, we’ve put together this guide. Materials are important when making your choice, so we also recommend our How to choose fasteners for high-temperature applications.
With fasteners ranging from nylon thumb screws and wing nuts to solid rivets and finishing washers, we’re here to make your job easier. That’s why we also encourage you to download free CADs and try before you buy with free samples.
Electronics
- White Goods
- Consumer Electronics
- Office Electronics
Ensure the quality and life of your product with fasteners in the sizes and tolerances you need.
Keep your design together with:
- Lightweight hex head cap screw
- Excellent electrical insulation properties
- Nylon 6/6
- High-temperature snap rivets – operating temperature range: 32˚F to 311˚F (0˚C to 155˚C)
- Suitable for awkward spaces
- Handles heat generated by application
- Black polysulfone, UL94 V-1
Snap push-in rivet dimensions
Learn more in How to choose your plastic rivets: a quick guide.
| HOLE G | Extraction Force (kg) Typ | F | A | B | C | D | E |
| 2.7 - 2.8 | 5 | 1.0 - 2.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 4.5 |
- Insulates against moisture and electricity
- Resists corrosion, abrasion and most chemicals
- Provides cushioning and spacing for a screw when a washer is attached
- Nylon 6/6, rated UL94 V-2
Nylon Flat Washers - dimensions
These are examples. More sizes available.
| A Inside Diameter (in) |
B Outside Diameter (in) |
C Thickness (in) |
| 0.146 | 0.315 | 0.02 |
| 1.102 | 1.969 | 0.157 |
| 0.106 | 0.236 | 0.02 |
Automotive
- Cars
- Motorbikes
- Specialist Vehicles
- Road and Rail Freight (Passenger Vehicles)
OEM quality you can rely on, from lightweight to heavy-duty fasteners, for every part of the vehicle.
Fasten your design with:
- Barbed push-fit rivets, also known as fir-tree rivets, enable fast, easy installation
- Flexible ribs deflect and spring back to lock securely in place
- Combines the advantages of a push-in type fastener with a screw
- Nylon 6/6, rated UV94 V-2
Push-in Rivets - Barbed dimensions
Learn more with our guide to panel fasteners.
|
Screw Size |
L (in) |
Ø Hole (in) |
Ø Hole (mm) |
| 1/4 |
0.375 |
0.203 |
5.2 |
| 1/4 | 0.500 | 0.203 | 5.2 |
| 1/4 | 0.625 | 0.203 | 5.2 |
| 1/4 | 0.750 | 0.203 | 5.2 |
| 1/4 | 1.000 | 0.203 | 5.2 |
- Quarter-turn fasteners join together one fixed and one removable panel
- Preassembled to reduce hardware and cost
- Acetal, rated UL94 HB
- Retaining washer with anti-loss lip is suitable for pre-assembly
- Sealing capabilities; resistant to corrosion and many chemicals
- Nylon 6/6
Retaining Washers dimensions
Retail and Furniture
- Point of Sale
- Office Furniture
Our range includes strong, clear, polycarbonate fasteners ideal for retail and display solutions for furniture.
Secure your design with:
- Fir-tree rivets, also called barbed rivets, are ideal for threaded, non-threaded, drilled or punched holes
- Designed to be non-removable
- Suitable for Point-of-Purchase displays
- Available in polypropylene (PP) and nylon (example below: PP)
Fir-tree push-in rivet dimensions
Example of dimensions - more sizes available.
|
Hole dia |
Max. panel thickness |
D |
H1 |
H2 |
| 4.8 |
0.8 - 8.4 |
11.1 |
14.3 |
1.7 |
| 4.9 | 2.4 - 7.4 | 11.2 | 12.5 | 1.1 |
| 4.8 | 0.6 - 9.23 | 9.5 | 12.7 | 1.8 |
- Thumb screw knobs can be used as thumb screw or knob
- Knobs easily assembled by pressing onto a standard socket head cap screw of any length
- Acetal; style: rosette knob thumb screws
Plastic Flowerette Knobs - dimensions
These are examples. More sizes available.
| Screw Size | Outside Diameter (in) | Knob height (in) |
| 1/32 | 1.500 | 0.375 |
| 1/4 | 1.500 | 0.375 |
| 3/8 | 1.500 | 0.375 |
Machinery
- Generators
- HVAC
- Industrial Tools
Fastener failures are often caused by the joint losing clamp load due to vibration and high dynamic loads. You can prevent this with the right fasteners.
Enhance the life of your design with:
- Used in conjunction with the VG series vibration grommets
- Zinc-plated, 1022 carbon steel
Vibration Grommet Screw - dimensions
More sizes available.
| DIMENSION "A" ± .010 |
DIMENSION "B" REF |
DIMENSION "C" ± .004 |
DIMENSION "D" ± .005 |
DIMENSION "E" ± .005 |
| .350 [8.9] | .218 [5.5] | .146 [3.7] | .195 [5] | .050 [1.3] |
- Combined washer function
- Even load distribution
- Reduced risk of damage and loosening
- Nylon 6/6
Nylon flange hex nut - dimensions
| Thread | Outside Diameter (in) | Across flats (in) | Height (in) |
| 1/4 - 28 | 0.582 | 0.428 | 0.266 |
| 10 - 32 | 0.425 | 0.365 | 0.250 |
| 5/8 - 11 | 1.265 | 0.930 | 0.557 |
- Threaded rod stock easily cut to size
- Resistant to vibrations, abrasions and most chemicals
- Electrically insulating, non-magnetic, lightweight and low thermal conductivity
- Threaded stud with chamfer on both ends also available
- Nylon 6/6
Comparing Plastic Materials
Material is the vitiating factor in delivering successful projects, from creating point-of-sale displays to building a new electrical cabinet.
Plastics have many advantages over metals. They cost less and don’t rust or conduct heat or electricity. To help you choose the appropriate fastening material based on your specific application and environment, the table below will help you make an informed decision for your project.
|
Material |
Strength |
Impact resistance |
UV resistance |
Acids/alkalines resistance |
Weather resistance |
Heat resistance |
Flame resistance |
|
Nylon |
Good |
Fair |
Fair |
Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Fair |
|
PP |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
|
PVDF |
Poor |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
|
PC |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Poor |
|
POM |
Poor |
Good |
Poor |
Fair |
Poor |
Good |
Poor |
|
TPE |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
|
PEEK |
Good |
Good |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
|
PVC |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Poor |
Good |
|
PE |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Good |
Poor |
Poor |
Poor |
|
PPS |
Good |
Poor |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Good |
Good |
|
PU |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
|
TPR |
Poor |
Good |
Good |
Poor |
Fair |
Fair |
Good |
Which material?
Some examples of which materials work best for certain industries.
- Point of Sale and Display – Polycarbonate (PC) is a key material within this industry due to its strong nature twinned with its transparent appearance.
- Pharmaceutical – Polypropylene (PP) has great resistance to many chemicals and can be easily welded to other PP components, providing versatility.
- Electrical – With high temperature stability, heat and flame resistance, PVDF lends itself well to use in a working electrical application or electrical cabinet.
- Oil & Gas – In an often moving and volatile application, PEEK® material fasteners offer high tensile strength, flame resistance and can operate in continuous use in temperatures up to 180°C
- Automotive and Manufacturing – Tough and mechanically resistant, nylon fasteners are lighter, less expensive alternatives to metal equivalents. If you need added UV resistance, choose an PVDF component.
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. You can also request free samples to make sure you’ve chosen exactly what you need. If you’re not quite sure which solution will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you.
Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast dispatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.com or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 800-847-0486.