The fir tree design (also called the x-mas tree design) on fasteners and clips is a solid design capable of high removal forces to ensure it remains in place. It is most commonly found on many off-the-shelf push panel fasteners that are widely available from various sources. But what about when you need more of a custom solution for your application?
In this post, we will take you through the pros of using fir-tree features, some commonly used designs, and a few other technical elements you should know.
Automotive manufacturers have used metal fasteners as a norm for decades. However, as car manufacturers continue to focus on reducing the weight of their vehicles to improve fuel and battery efficiency, there has been a growing interest in replacing metal fasteners with plastic alternatives. This shift is driven by several factors, including plastic's lighter weight, corrosion resistance, and the ability to mold and shape plastic into complex geometries. In this post, we'll take you through the pros and cons of injection molded fasteners, design elements to focus on, and other factors that play major rolls in a fastener's success.
In this post, we are going to take you through not just the basics but also design tips, material breakdown, and what you absolutely need to get right when with the tooling and injection molding process for a successful living hinge.
Engineering a plastic part to replace a metal component requires expertise in design, material, tooling, injection molding, and validation testing. In this post, we're going to explore some of the designs that become the go-to for tier-1s and OEMs over the years.
