Integral Mechanical Attachment: A Resurgence of the Oldest Method of Joining

Citation

Heilala, J. (2007), "Integral Mechanical Attachment: A Resurgence of the Oldest Method of Joining", Assembly Automation, Vol. 27 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2007.03327dae.001

Integral Mechanical Attachment: A Resurgence of the Oldest Method of Joining

Robert Messler JrButterworth-Heinemann (part of Elsevier)£39.99ISBN 978-0-7506-7965-7Publication date: 17 July 2006http://books.elsevier.com/knowledgemanagement/default.asp?isbn=9780750679657

Mechanical joining and integral mechanical attachments are old technologies for joining parts together. The book is a single-source text book that provides an overview of the various categories of fastening systems and their various applications. The book comprises 13 chapters:

1. 1.

   Introduction to Integral Mechanical Attachment.

2. 2.

   Classification of Integral Mechanical Attachment.

3. 3.

   Rigid Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks.

4. 4.

   Elastic (Snap-fit) Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks.

5. 5.

   Plastic (Formed-in) Integral Mechanical Attachments or Interlocks.

6. 6.

   Classification Revisited.

7. 7.

   Metal Attachments.

8. 8.

   Polymer Attachments.

9. 9.

   Wood Attachments.

10. 10.

    Cement, Concrete, and Masonry- unit Attachments.

11. 11.

    Glass and Ceramic Attachments.

12. 12.

    Mechanical Electrical Connections.

13. 13.

    The Future of Integral Mechanical Attachment: Where from Here?

Index

This book is the outcome of many years of research and illustrates the major classes of integral mechanical fasteners, with examples of typical assembly and ideas covering mainly mechanical, but also civil and electrical engineering. It is well presented and is a splendid piece of work. Attention is given to the historical development of the topic, and there is a large and valuable collection of references. But I am sad to say that some of the oldest reference books are out of print.

Most interesting from the assembly automation point of view are the tables and comparison of different methods. Assembly is putting parts together, joining and the joining process are the key questions for the product designer and production engineer. The book covers all the technologies of integral mechanical attachment and differentiates them from the more familiar technology of fastening, it presents their advantages and disadvantages. The book does not present any new joining methods, but the uncommon presented technologies have been around a long time. Most useful for me with the first reading were the tables and taxonomy, classification of various methods. The taxonomy and tables are useful, especially for when engineers are searching for suitable joining methods, some of the older methods might have been forgotten.

The book covers many types of joints with geometry, structure and material data. It looks at the underlying mechanism for all mechanical attachment methods. Each of the three major classifications, based on whenever the attachments are intended to operate by remaining rigid, by remaining elastically or by being formed plastically are presented type- by-type. Detailed forms and ways by which each type of attachment can be accomplished are presented.

Integral mechanical attachments are very suitable for automated assembly, snap-fit or elastic integral mechanical attachment joining is preferred in the DFA, Design for Assembly analysis. Snap-fit has less parts due to integration of attachment features and it provides a fast process. The author has some nice articles in Assembly Automation Volume 17 (1997) Number 2. Integral attachment using snap-fit features. Part 1, pp. 143-155 and Part 2, pages 156-165.

Also formed-in or plastic integral mechanical attachments are suitable for automated production, since the joining process is an integral part of the assembly, but cost of special equipment needed might be high. The other benefits could be based on the fact that integral mechanical attachments could be used instead of jig and fixtures. Naturally benefits and use of integral attachments needs to be analysed case by case.

This book is a good reference for students, academics and especially for engineers in various fields. The product designer or production engineer needs to know the principle of joining methods.

Future improvements, I noticed few figures, which were not very high quality, anyway readable. The book could be also more compact with narrower focus, now it covers a really wide area of engineering. But innovations do happen in the borders of engineering disciplines and maybe mechanical engineers figure out some new ideas, while looking at the attachment examples from civil engineering. The potential future enhancement could be to present more about manufacturing technology for integral attachment features. For example, sheet metal, use of laser cutting in making the attachment features instead of punching. Maybe this is an idea for other book or there might be a book already available, which I do not know yet.

Juhani Heilala

Senior Research Scientist at VTT