The Rational Use Of Custom Made Fasteners In Electronics Design
In any industry, using anything custom made is usually considered to be a sign of prestige and exclusivity. However, it’s not always a wise decision to decide to use custom made items in all instances. For instance, if you run a manufacturing plant, you might need to invest in fasteners such as screws and bolts. This is especially so when it comes to the manufacturing of electrical goods. Some of the things that you might be looking out for when deciding to use custom made fasteners include achieving a certain look as well as ensuring that the security of the appliance or product is maintained.
However, this does not mean that the use of custom made fasteners should be sanctioned in all cases. Some of the things you need to consider include:
The cost
This is usually one of the most significant considerations for people who are thinking of using custom made fasteners. This is especially so when the shape, size or material the fasteners are made of is not very common, in which case the cost will definitely be higher.
A high cost of fasteners can increase the cost of each product you are manufacturing. If you are running a business, you need to evaluate the pros and cons of using the custom made fasteners, and only do so when it seems beneficial. If using regular fasteners such as Inconel hex tap bolts does not offer obvious disadvantages over the custom ones, it would be wiser to work with the commoner, cheaper ones.
The ease of installation
In many cases, the custom made bolts and nuts will need special installation. For instance, if you get bolts that have an odd shape, you will need to get equipment that has been made specifically for this type of fastener. This is not always practical. Once again, you need to weigh the pros and cons of getting the custom fasteners before committing to use them.
The implications for the customer
If you are designing consumer electronics, you should also think about the implications of using custom made fasteners to them. For instance, if it turns out that the equipment is likely to be serviced by the customer, it means that they will need to keep opening it up time and again. When you have common fasteners such as an aluminum hex tap bolt holding the assembly together, it becomes very easy for the user to do this. All they need to do is find a tool that can be used to undo and fasten the bolts.
On the other hand, if you have a complex custom made set of fasteners, it becomes difficult for the consumer to decide to buy your products. Remember, most people will try to do some research on the ease of use of such products, and if it turns out that yours are very difficult to use then you will lose business.
In summary, there are many reasons why you should consider custom made fasteners. However, you should also remember that they are not applicable in all cases, and that you need to be careful when deciding when to use them.
