Assembly Fasteners, Inc. (AFI)

Most popular in the United States and Canada, inch fasteners follow a naming convention that lists diameter, number of threads per inch, and length in terms of inches. Ironically, these fasteners are generally expressed as whole numbers for smaller sizes and as fractions for larger sizes. Metric bolts and screws represent diameter and thread pitch or length in millimeters, often followed by abbreviated letters to indicate the fastener’s material. Unlike inch fasteners, which express screw thread reciprocally, large numbers in metric fasteners indicate a coarser thread.

Standard rivets provide permanent fastening with a smooth cylindrical shaft binding two surfaces together. The basic structure features a head on one end and a tail on the other; rivet installation upsets or bucks the fastener’s tail, which holds the assembly in place. In the case of blind rivets, the component is tubular in nature, with a central mandrel for support. To join two parts, the rivet is inserted into a hole and a specialized tool is used to draw the mandrel into the rivet until it snaps off at its pre-engineered break point. Due to this unique installation, blind rivets are ideal for joints that can only be reached from one side. The unique design means they are non-locking and subject to weakening from vibration, but still provides an ideal solution for limited access joints. They can be particularly useful in sheet-type production situations.

A basic yet unique style of fastener, hinges bind two solid objects together while allowing for an angle of rotation between them. Beyond this function, hinges have been developed to serve specialized applications with a range of specific designs, material construction, and even adjustable functions. This can include: Invisible hinges Concealed door hinges Heavy duty hinges Adjustable hidden hinges Double action hinges Lift off hinges Corrosion proof hinges Continuous torque hinges Piano hinges These hinges have a distinct and stylish hardware that serves custom home design, consumer electronics, marine components, and the aircraft industry with innovative form and function.

AFI has served the global marketplace as a fastener specialist for over 30 years, and we pride ourselves on offering customers a full range of abrasives in our catalogue of components, all supported with worldwide delivery. Our collaboration with top partners like VSM, use of innovative Vendor Managed Inventory Programs, and deep dedication to customer service all help us hold your world together. Our knowledgeable staff offers over a century of combined experience. Contact them today for help to find the best abrasive to fit your application.

The cost-effectiveness, even stress distribution, and binding power of adhesives make an ideal fastening solution. They are available in a variety of formulations for top performance, including: Anaerobics – including thread sealants and thread lockers, as well as retaining compounds Cyanoacrylate Adhesives – designed for instant applications Epoxies – ideal for structural applications and featuring a two-part room temperature curing process (or single-part heat cure) Structural Acrylic Adhesives – designed for high-stress applications Polyurethanes – for extreme stickiness and solid-setting bonds UV Light Curable Compounds – popular for electronic, telecommunication, aerospace, and other high performance applications with curing times as fast as one second MS Polymers – an eco-friendly, high performance solution for creating permanently flexible bonds

The delicate, interconnected workings of electronics and data processing circuitry demand a family of specially developed components for high-level performance. The individual chips, circuits, and power sources in an electronic system must be mounted, secured, and assembled with particular fasteners and hardware solutions.