EDITOR ’ S CHOICE A UNIQUE SERVICE
STAR FASTENERS
Providing technical knowledge and support
As a distributor in today ’ s market , it is not enough to simply supply a product , you need to be able to offer something unique . Thanks to their technical knowledge and flexibility , Star Fasteners have the ability to work alongside project designers and mechanical engineers from a diverse range of industries , ensuring that customers are offered the most appropriate and costeffective technology for their application .
Bobtail installation sequence
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GLOBAL HUCK ® FASTENER DISTRIBUTOR
The Huck ® fastener range is used where high structural strength is required . Offering a clean and safe alternative to welding and a more efficient fastening method than standard nuts and bolts , Huck Fasteners offer benefits which other fastening methods cannot . These include quick and easy installation , elimination of re-checking / replacement and ultimately cost reductions . Each Huck fastener has its own unique characteristics ensuring that there is a product for every application . The business Lou Huck founded over 60 years ago and the fasteners he designed are still solving the problem of coping with extreme stress and vibration , providing strength and facilitating lighter , stronger , more durable structures . Today the product range based on his original design has evolved to include a diverse range of LockBolts ® and structural blind fasteners .
Huck Fasteners are used in a wide range of markets including truck , trailer , horseboxes , automotive , air conditioning , bus / coach , portable buildings , doors and door gear , agricultural machinery , green energy , rail ; in fact , anywhere that needs a dependable fastening solution .
INTRODUCING SWAGED HUCK ® LOCKBOLTS ®
For years , welding was seen as the only way to ensure the integrity of joints in demanding load-bearing or high-vibration structures . Companies manufacturing heavy-duty equipment or fabricating large , metal structures employed the universally accepted process of welding joints together . However , today there are alternatives to welding , one of the foremost being directtension installed , swaged LockBolts .
The pin is inserted into the prepared hole , and the collar is spun onto the pin .
The installation tool is applied to the annular pull grooves . When the tool is activated , a puller in the nose assembly draws the pin into the tool , causing the swaging anvil to press on the collar , drawing up any sheet gap .
HuckBolts ® ( or Huck LockBolts ) are precision engineered two-piece fasteners that , once installed , no matter how vibration-intensive the environment , do not come loose . HuckBolts provide direct metal-to-metal contact when installed , which eliminates the transverse vibration often found in conventional nuts and bolts . Engineered for a wide range of applications , HuckBolts deliver superior joining , shear , and tensile strength for an unmatched fastening solution .
HuckBolts can be used with virtually any metal ; dissimilar metals , coefficients of thermal expansion , present no problems . Varying material thicknesses in a joint are readily accommodated , and surface finishes are not damaged . Most importantly , HuckBolts have proven to hold up over years of service in demanding , high-stress , high-vibration environments .
HOW LOCKBOLTS ARE INSTALLED
The pin of a LockBolts is simply inserted into the pre-prepared hole and the collar can either be placed straight onto the pin , or where project pre-assembly is required , can be pre-installed , spun by hand onto the
At a predetermined force , the anvil begins to swage the collar into the pin ’ s lockgrooves . Continued swaging elongates the
collar and pin , developing precis * clamp .
When swaging of the collar into pin lockgrooves is complete , the tool ejects the fastener and releases the puller to complete the sequence .
Based on a typical installation of 5 / 8 " grade 8 fastener
pin (* depending on the product used ). When the installation tool is applied and the tool is activated , the action of the puller engaging onto the pin , together with the anvil swaging the collar , completes the installation . The swage and eject sequence are programmed to complete the cycle without any additional installer input . The process ensures excellent gap closing capability .
Manufacturers of heavy equipment are now using direct-tension LockBolts in their assembly process . Even taking into consideration the need to prepare a hole to take the fastener , installing a LockBolts is significantly faster than welding a joint . Once installed , a quick visual inspection is all that is required to confirm the accuracy and quality of the installation . Operators require minimal training in order to be proficient in the fastener ’ s installation .
These unique engineered fasteners , proven in demanding applications such as truck suspensions and chassis , railroad track crossings , and heavy defence vehicles , are now being used in a wide range of of products and structures where welding was once the only option .
38 PECM Issue 60