We Know joints

WHEN IT COMES TO JOINING SOLUTIONS, WE KNOW JOINTS

When compared to other joining methods like threaded fasteners, spot welds, tack welds, rivets or nails, band clamps possess several inherent strengths and benefits. Unlike other joining methods where the point of attachment is often just a point, significantly altering the items being joined, band clamps spread their clamping force out across the full perimeter or contact area of the items they are joining. This allows the joint to be formed without alteration of the items being joined.

With these other joining methods all the attachment force is focused into a single point and the stresses imparted are focused to that point. These stresses can often have negative effects on the items, or materials being joined due to significantly alteration of those items.

• Welding creates a heat affected zone (HAZ) that can alter the grain structure of the joined items leading to stress cracking and premature failure as well as reduced resistance to corrosion vs. the base material(s). Welding of dissimilar metals poses a whole new set of issues to an already potentially compromised joint.
• To employ a threaded fastener there must be a hole for the fastener to pass through in both items to be joined. Creating a hole, whether driven, punched or drilled imparts stresses into the items being addressed which can lead to fracturing, wallowing, as well as corrosion caused by removing protective coatings like galvanizing or processes like passivation hence exposing the underlying material to the atmosphere.

These failure modes can be exacerbated by any dynamic forces involved, such as vibration, flexing, thermal expansion and contraction. Continued exposure to these forces or elements only accelerates the failure until it becomes catastrophic.

Therefore, the initial selection of what type of joining method to employ is very important. The selection can lead to the unintended consequence of premature failure where the items that have been joined are still in useful condition, but the method of attachment has failed. Even worse consequences can arise when the failure leads to damage of other items, personal injury or loss of life.

Protect your investments and all that is valuable by carefully considering your next joining method, contact BAND-IT for engineered solutions that won’t let you down!

Case Study: BAND-IT’s High Strength, Corrosion, Vibration and Heat Resistant Clamping Systems Replace Welding And Welded Bolt-Clamps

Where the above stresses result in broken welds, failed assemblies and warranty repairs, BAND-IT’s ULTRA-LOK^® employed in large commercial vehicle diesel applications shrugs off all those environmental realities thriving in an environment for which it is perfectly suited.