A failure of fasteners may cause costly product warranty recalls & production shutdowns at great cost. Should a bolt loosen it may damage equipment or cause serious injury, or even death.
For example, in 2012, 432 barrels of synthetic drilling fluids were released into the Gulf of Mexico when 4-foot bolts on a drilling rig failed as a result of vibration & external forces. After an investigation, the bolts’ manufacturer had to replace 10,000 bolts deployed, & the oil drilling company had to disrupt deep-water operations.
Preventing Nut & Bolt Self-Loosening & Avoid The Negative Impact Of Vibration
It’s essential during design & development to determine whether the parts & assembly process meet design specifications & our team of experts are here to help. Our engineering design & consultancy experts can provide technical advice & support to develop the right solutions for your project.
With an eye on efficiency & safety, we can help you analyse the performance of your current production line & your existing products to suggest ways of improving the overall assembly process to enhance performance & reduce costs.
Spiralock - Increased Efficiency, Reduced Downtimes & Reduced Costs
To avoid unexpected downtimes & the additional costs that are a result of loosened bolted joints, Stanley Engineered Fastening modified thread geometry to develop Spiralock - available now at Zygology. One of our most efficient anti-vibration solutions, Spiralock is a simple yet effective way to transform a traditional threaded joint into a safer & more reliable design element.
Spiralock is a self-locking female thread form with a 30-degree wedge ramp at the root of the thread. The wedge ramp allows the bolt to spin freely until clamp load is applied. At that point, the crests of the standard male thread are drawn tightly against the wedge ramp, creating a continuous spiral line of contact along the entire length of the thread engagement.
This unique design provides exceptional resistance to vibration loosening, prevents micro movements that are triggered by thermal interaction, improved joint integrity and consistent, repeated reusability while eliminating the need for secondary locking devices.
Applications Suited To Spiralock Fasteners:
- Automotive
- Construction
- Electronics
- Medical
- Agriculture
- Oil & gas
- Aviation
- Space systems
Zygology’s Fastening Advice & Solutions Can Help Prevent Serious Injury
When asked about the benefits of Zygology’s engineering design & consultancy for customers, Sales Director Richard Avery said, “The possible impact of vibration is one of many factors we review when discussing your assembly requirements.
“The impact of vibration & self-loosening nuts can be costly & potentially life-threatening. It is a serious issue & each year many thousands of pounds is wasted by manufacturers using various complicated washer combinations, thread sealants and adhesives to try to prevent threaded joints from becoming loose.
“Our team of assembly experts can find the right fastener or assembly solution, such as Spiralock, to avoid the risks of loosening as a result of vibration & external forces.”
Get In Touch With The Assembly Experts
If you’d like to discuss your project with our experts & discover a solution to your requirements & challenges or how Spiralock self-clinching locknut can benefit your business by reducing costs & increasing efficiency, get in touch with our friendly team of experts today on 0808 123 1221 or email sales@zygology.com.
You can also see more information on Spiralock products on our web page here
About Zygology Ltd
With 40 years’ of experience Zygology is the country's main distributor for Penn Engineering and the largest distributor for Southco and POP Avdel in the UK. We are also the UK distribution hub for MasterFix fasteners and tooling. Zygology has also recently been appointed as an official distributor for Tesa assembly adhesive tapes. We have in-house repair facilities for POP Avdel and MasterFix tools. Zygology Ltd has an in depth knowledge of the products we sell and how they can be best incorporated into yours. We will always give the best advice we can - even if this sometimes means that we end up recommending a competing technology. We combine friendly service with competitive prices and excellent stock availability.
