9 - Fabrication

Abstract

This chapter discusses the fabrication of systems. Fasteners embrace a wide range of common and specialized components, but the emphasis for the designer of today is on fastening systems, largely because economy in production demands overall consideration of the assembly process. Fasteners inserted by hand are labor intensive and, therefore, make the assembly expensive. The range of fastener systems currently available is bewilderingly wide, but it is the designer's responsibility to select from the right category, to assess performance from the supplier's data, and to consider in-place costs. Fasteners that fail in service are not only unreliable but also uneconomical. Fastening systems, whether they are adhesives, nuts and bolts, welding, or any other method, are inherent in the design of the product or structure destined to be assembled as a one-off, by batch production or mass production. However, despite the popularity of adhesives, mechanical fasteners still have a prime role to play but, unless sufficient care is taken in their selection, the installation of such fasteners can lead to increased costs and possibly to a decrease in the required level of mechanical efficiency or in-service reliability.