Fasteners 101: Types of Fasteners and How to Choose Them

Fasteners play very important roles in making several objects. Suppose you do regular DIY projects. In that case, there’s every possibility that you used fasteners to get your job done. They help hold parts in place while preventing excess vibration and pressure. There are many different types of fasteners. The different types also come with a reasonably high level of variability.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of fasteners as well as their subtypes. We’ll also give you the important tips to help you select the right fastener for your work. Before we dive into the details, let’s start by defining fasteners.

What Is a Fastener?

The term ‘fastener’ is an encompassing term that describes a broad range of tools. These tools include screws, bolts, nuts, etc., and they share a common aim. The aim is to enable the mechanical adherence of objects. In simple terms, Subway Fasteners help to hold objects in place or together mechanically.

You may argue that glue can perform this function effectively. If the glue is not an example of fasteners, then what is a fastener? This will prompt us to expand on the initial definition. Hardware fasteners are those that help to hold objects together mechanically.

There is a broad classification of fasteners. It classifies them into Permanent and Non-Permanent fasteners. Generally, fasteners are considered to form non-permanent joints. That is, you should be able to separate two components connected with a fastener. While the pieces come apart, they must not suffer any form of damage. An exception to this rule is the rivet, which is a permanent fastener.

The fact that most fasteners form non-permanent joints does not mean that the joint is weak. Using the fasteners with properly formed threads will give you a reliable hold on your objects. That way, you can be sure that your object can be subject to a high level of stress. They are highly versatile, making them useful for various types of joints.

There is an extensive array of mechanical Railway Fasteners available. However, it is important that you choose the right one for your application. Choosing the right fastener is not only important for productivity purposes. It is also crucial for the safety of the process and the plant workers. Let’s look at how to choose the right fastener at all times.

Know the Application

The types of fasteners you use will always depend on the requirements of your application. You have to consider if your Spring Bar Type I Fasteners will fit. The design of the fastener can be vital in knowing the amount of torque it can take. You may need a very long flange bolt to hold several components of your parts.

Also, you need to consider leaving some threads of the fastener out. This is to ensure the safety of the material and personnel. Sometimes, you may find more than one type of fastener working. In that case, you need to seek the experience of experts to decide the right one for the work.

What are sleepers?

Traditionally used on railways, Sleepers have many other uses in construction and for home improvement projects. Wooden sleepers are still in use today, but they've largely been replaced by concrete sleepers as a cheaper and lower-maintenance alternative.

Concrete sleepers are available in plain grey or a range of colours and styles to match different projects. Two popular options are heritage concrete sleepers, for a traditional look, or structural concrete sleepers reinforced with metal, if more support is needed.

What are structural concrete sleepers?

Structural concrete sleepers are sleepers made from concrete that have been reinforced with steel. These sleepers are extremely strong and can be used in all kind of projects that require structural support.

These New Type II Sleepers are held together using modular posts that are set in concrete for added strength. In higher walls, or where extra strength is required, steel I-beams that are set in concrete are used (simply slot the sleepers into either side of the I-beam).

Just because they're made from concrete doesn't mean you have to be stuck with boring old “concrete grey”. There are pigments that can be mixed through the concrete to give you different colours. As the colour is all the way through the concrete, it won't fade, chip, or peel away.

Various Cement Products are the basic ingredient of concrete. Concrete is formed when portland cement creates a paste with water that binds with sand and rock to harden.

Cement is manufactured through a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and other ingredients.

Common materials used to manufacture cement include limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate, blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore. These ingredients, when heated at high temperatures form a rock-like substance that is ground into the fine powder that we commonly think of as cement.

Bricklayer Joseph Aspdin of Leeds, England first made portland cement early in the 19th century by burning powdered limestone and clay in his kitchen stove. With this crude method, he laid the foundation for an industry that annually processes literally mountains of limestone, clay, cement rock, and other materials into a powder so fine it will pass through a sieve capable of holding water.

Cement plant laboratories check each step in the manufacture of portland cement by frequent chemical and physical tests. The labs also analyze and test the finished product to ensure that it complies with all industry specifications.

The most common way to manufacture portland cement is through a dry method. The first step is to quarry the principal raw materials, mainly limestone, clay, and other materials. After quarrying the rock is crushed. This involves several stages. The first crushing reduces the rock to a maximum size of about 6 inches. The rock then goes to secondary crushers or hammer mills for reduction to about 3 inches or smaller.