No tapping needed

Alcoa’s Fastening Systems (AFS) business has introduced a new patent-pending insert, called SmartSert, which can be installed in plastic or aluminium-based materials without a pre-tapped hole.

The innovative product, which was developed by AFS in Melbourne, Australia, eliminates steps previously required for thread-forming inserts.

Manufacturers traditionally used bolts inserted into a tapped hole to fasten items together. If the thread on the bolt or in the hole gets damaged - or “stripped”- the connection becomes weak and the product is ruined. The solution was to place a metal insert with a thread formation into the hole, restoring both the connection and the product. Over time, thread forming inserts became standard practice when a bolt connection needed to be strong, such as on aircraft.

‘One of the major drawbacks of threads is that the preparation for the insert – drilling a hole and then performing a tapping operation to thread the hole – is time consuming and expensive due to the machinery and accuracy required,’ said Simon Bowen, Director of Operations for AFS Australia. ‘The key to creating the SmartSert insert is that it can be installed quicker without a pre-formed hole.’