What are some common design mistakes to avoid when using self-locating and self-fastening standards?

1 Mistake 1: Ignoring tolerances

One of the most important factors to consider when using self-locating and self-fastening standards is the dimensional accuracy and variation of your parts. If your parts are too loose or too tight, they may not fit properly, cause stress or deformation, or fail prematurely. Therefore, you need to specify and control the tolerances of your parts according to the type and function of the self-locating and self-fastening features. For example, snap-fits require tighter tolerances than interlocking joints, and plastic parts may have different tolerances than metal parts due to thermal expansion or shrinkage.

2 Mistake 2: Overlooking material properties

Another key factor to consider when using self-locating and self-fastening standards is the material properties and compatibility of your parts. Different materials have different strengths, stiffness, elasticity, fatigue resistance, friction, wear, and corrosion characteristics, which affect how they behave under stress, load, vibration, or environmental conditions. Therefore, you need to select and test the materials of your parts according to the type and function of the self-locating and self-fastening features. For example, snap-fits require flexible and resilient materials that can withstand repeated deformation and recovery, while interlocking joints require rigid and stable materials that can resist separation and sliding.

3 Mistake 3: Neglecting design guidelines

A third common mistake to avoid when using self-locating and self-fastening standards is neglecting the design guidelines and best practices that have been established and validated by experts and industry standards. These guidelines provide useful information and recommendations on how to design, size, shape, position, and orient the self-locating and self-fastening features to achieve optimal performance and reliability. Therefore, you need to consult and follow these guidelines as much as possible, and avoid deviating from them without proper justification or testing. For example, snap-fits have specific guidelines on the length, width, thickness, angle, curvature, and location of the snap elements, while interlocking joints have specific guidelines on the clearance, overlap, depth, and alignment of the interlocking elements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?