What is a bolt and fastener?

Introduction to Bolts

A bolt is a threaded pin or bar with an unthreaded head that may be flat or round. Bolts are used with a corresponding nut or tapped hole to join two or more parts, closing a joint. The heads of the bolt have got threads that enable it to be screwed to tighten the connected surfaces. Bolts are typically manufactured from steel, stainless steel or titanium, making them strong and very hard wearing. They are widely applied in construction, automotive, machinery, and so on.

Introduction to Fasteners

It is important to define the term fastener to mean any piece of hardware that is used to attach two or more objects mechanically. They can be screws, bolts, nuts, washers, clips, pins and rivets. They are available in various sizes, shapes, and materials and are suitable for different uses. Fasteners are intended for a temporary or permanent application based on the fastener’s kind and manner of application. Although bolts are only one type of fastener, the term fastener method can be defined as any means of joining parts together.

Difference Between Bolt vs Fasteners

While both bolts and fasteners are used to join parts, there are key differences:

Definition:

Bolt: A bolt, as distinguished from a screw, is a threaded rod with a head usable with a nut or an internally threaded hole.

Fastener: Fasteners are any type of hardware which is used to join parts together, such as bolts, screws, nails, clips, and rivets.

Usage:

Bolts: They are employed when the power of joining is high, and the connected parts can be unbolted for service or repair.

Fasteners: They are described as used for any type of joint irrespective of whether it is fixed or separable, and encompass other types of fasteners.

Design:

Bolts: Bolts are threaded rods with a head on one or both ends. They are intended to be fastened to a nut or a pre-tapped hole to hold parts together.

Fasteners: Fasteners are a broad category of products with diverse design features; they are used to join different parts and are designed as screws, nuts, rivets, and clips.

Different types and applications of bolts and fasteners 

Types of Bolts:

Hex Bolts: Most often employed in machinery and structures because of their capacity and simplicity.

Carriage Bolts: These bolts have a round, smooth head and are therefore recommended for use on wooden and other relatively soft surfaces.

Anchor Bolts: Anchors employed to fasten items to concrete are available in the construction and equipment industries.

Eye Bolts: The eye bolts have a looped head through which a connection point for lifting or securing an object is developed.

U-Bolts: These bolts are available in a form that looks like the letter “U” and are used in joining pipes or tubes to surfaces.

Applications 

Automotive: Applied in fixing parts of the engines and the other parts of vehicles.

Construction: Secure beams, columns, and other steel structures are used in buildings and bridges.

Machinery: The mechanical parts of equipment and machinery should be protected to help minimise movement and guarantee that the equipment will stay in good condition.

Aerospace: To join body parts to form a whole plane with a strong bond that will only allow it to be disassembled by experts.

Marine: Safe sections of vessels, floating structures and offshore structures against unfavourable environmental challenges.

Types of Fasteners:

Nuts: It secures the two surfaces by applying force in a perpendicular direction and bolts. Some of the most common nuts include hex nuts and lock nuts, and wing nuts are on the list.

Screws: Screws which are similar to bolts, are used for wood, metal and plastics and usually have a pointed end which can be driven into a material.

Rivets: Applicable for permanent joining, rivets find application in aerospace and automotive industries.

Washers: These are flat, round discs that are used together with bolts to spread the load evenly without harming the material being joined.

Clips: Clips are common in automobiles or electrical systems. They serve as fasteners to hold a part to a surface.

Applications:

Automotive: Engines, chassis, and other vehicle parts must be bolted and fastened, so they require bolts and fasteners.

Construction: Structural bolts and fasteners are designed to connect beams, columns and other members of buildings and bridges.

Aerospace: Bolt and other fasteners help maintain an aircraft’s strength and reliability.

Electronics: Screws and clips are employed for the connection of parts of an electronic device in order to fasten related components.

Conclusion

Bolts and fasteners are a common part of many industries as they act to retain or fasten two or more parts that are to work together. That means that bolts are a particular type of threaded fastener with a head; fasteners are a wider category of hardware used for joining parts. It is important to note the differences and use of bolts and fasteners to meet the intended application in a certain construction project to have the strength, stability and safety required in joining the various parts. When constructing something, fixing equipment, or creating an electronic device, the type of fastener is important for the proper and lasting result.