The next step in lockbolt evolution
1 min read
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS) has come up with a design which overcomes an inherent weakness in standard lockbolt fasteners.
BobTail fastener has no pin-tail and as a result of this zero pin-break, no waste material to collect and dispose of or potential corrosion issues post installation.
The tooling, which can be used for both installing and removing fasteners, is claimed to be lightweight, low-noise and has a low-maintenance requirement. It provides a smooth installation sequence for a 16mm diameter fastener in just two seconds – twice as fast as any other large diameter lockbolt on the market, according to Jay Sahadew, marketing manager at AFS.
Commenting on the launch Sahadew said: "This fastening system has already proved very popular with US truck and commercial vehicle manufacturers such as PACCAR and Great Dane. Although there is specific tooling, existing Huck systems may be adapted and utilised to accommodate BobTail nose assemblies, reducing the cost of conversion."
"BobTail's speedy installation reduces wear and tear on tools and parts and the zero waste material eliminates extra time and effort required to collect and dispose of pin-tails" he added.
BobTail is currently available in steel as 4, 6.4, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 20mm diameters, with new materials and sizes planned for 2010.
