4 Critical Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Application Fasteners

You can be sure to find fasteners, especially nuts and bolts, in virtually all industries and applications. If you are a manufacturer, you must find out which fasteners are best suited for your application. If you don't choose wisely, you risk compromising the quality of your production, which has a dramatic consequence on overall sales and productivity. Choosing the wrong fastener will also reduce the product's lifespan and cause premature failure. 

Therefore, selecting the ideal fasteners is imperative for the success of your application or products. Here are four essential considerations to help you make an informed fastener choice:

What Will Be the Product's Primary Use?

If you are looking for suitable fasteners, you must first determine your product's immediate use and how your fastener choice will help attain it. For instance, it's recommended to opt for metallic fasteners if your application's enclosure requires frequent opening and closing. Such fasteners are also ideal for components that constantly move or shudder. However, applications that don't require opening can benefit more from less costly fasteners, like plastic. 

Understand Your Product Specifications 

Similar to the previous point, it's imperative also to know your specific application needs. The design of your products will determine the required fastener size, functionality, materials and shape. Turning a blind eye on these aspects can result in inconvenient product performance and function. Another critical aspect to consider when determining specifications is fastener threading. It would be a poor choice to opt for single-threaded fasteners when your actual design requires multi-threaded fasteners. Additionally, keep a keen eye on the fastener's weight, product tolerance and size. 

Match the Finish to Its Function

It is wise to purchase your fasteners only after your vendor has analysed and understood your unique needs and is well-informed to offer guidance. For instance, hardness finishes must be selected as per the proposed design. The metal thicknesses and grades should match that of your application. Therefore, to ensure effective requirement communication while placing your order, provide a detailed description of your fastener's purposed functionality and ask about its shortcomings.

The Price Factor 

Finally, the cost is undoubtedly a factor you can't overlook, and it would help if you kept off from shortcuts only to save a few bucks. Keep in mind that opting for cheaper fasteners can be costly in the long run because they are prone to premature failure. Similarly, going for the priciest fastener could cost you more. Instead, it would help if you considered weighing your options carefully. Compare costs versus quality and long-term benefits to find a better deal on your nuts and bolts.