Joining components to lightweight honeycomb material has traditionally been achieved through a variety of fixing elements and techniques such as rivets, adhesives, potted or floating inserts and, of course, nuts and bolts. A unique collaboration between EJOT and automated screw specialists Weber, has resulted in the TSSD direct Installation fastening system, creating an incredibly strong joint and eliminating the need for any pre-hole. The TSSD component is designed with a 9mm diameter and made from a fibre-glass reinforced thermoplastic polymer. This strength makes it possible to apply a specific axial loading to revolution ratio, resulting in a fast high-strength joint without the need to create a pre-hole.
Weber’s setting process is critically optimised to achieve this, making it possible to record the setting parameters used. Such has been the impact, that designers at many of Germany’s main vehicle manufacturers now ‘design in’ new TSSD variants. Pull-out loads for TSSD into the broad standard honeycomb material are typically around 800 N, with loads of up to 1000 N achievable. In organo type materials, this rises to as much as 1800 N.
To infinity and beyond...
TSSD is now being deployed by aerospace designers, having first met stringent aerospace specification. Even European furniture companies are now using the fastening in wet-area products, as it moves from wooden furniture to ranges made from wood-effect honeycomb materials.
