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Snapfit
Snapfit
A Snap Joints/General
• Common features
• Types of snap joints
• Comments on dimensioning
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Snap Joints General A
Common features
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
A
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Snap Joints/General A
Cantilever snap joints
The four cantilevers on the control panel mod-
ule shown in Fig. 1 hold the module firmly in
place in the grid with their hooks, and yet it can
still be removed when required. An economical
and reliable snap joint can also be achieved by
rigid lugs on one side in combination with
snap-fitting hooks on the other (Fig. 2). This
design is particularly effective for joining two
similar halves of a housing which need to be
easily separated. The positive snap joint illus-
trated in Fig. 3 can transmit considerable
forces. The cover can still be removed easily
from the chassis, however, since the snap-fit-
ting arms can be re-leased by pressing on the
two tongues in the direction of the arrow.
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
A
Torsion snap joints
Fig. 7: Cross-sectional sketch (above) and photo (below) of a traffic light made of
Makrolon®polycarbonate. All the components are held together entirely be means of
snap joints
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
Design Hints
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
Calculations
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Geometric factors K and Z for ring segment
Fig 10: Diagrams for determining K1 and K2 for cross-sectional shape type C in Table 1.
K1: Concave side under tensile load, K2: Convex side under tensile load
Fig 11: Graphs for determining the dimensionless quantity (Z/r23) used to derive the section modulus (Z) for cross-
sectional shape C in Table 1.
Z1: concave side under tensile stress, Z2: convex side under tensile stress
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
Fig 13: Determination of the permissible strain for the joining operation (left: material with distinct yield point;
right: glass-fiber-reinforced material without yield point)
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
B
Deflection force
Values for the secant modulus for various Table 2: General guide data for the allowable
Bayer engineering plastics can be determined short-term strain for snap joints (single join -
from Fig. 16. The strain value used should ing operation); for frequent separation and
rejoining, use about 60% of these values
Polyurethane Snap-Fits
always be the one on which the dimensioning
of the undercut was based.
Snap-fits are possible using certain
polyurethane systems. For more
information call Polymers Design
Engineering at 412-777-4952.
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
Fig. 16: Secant Modulus for Bayer engineering plastics at 23°C (73°F)
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
B
Mating Force
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
PTFE 0.12-0.22
The figures depend on the relative speed of the PE rigid 0.20-0.25 (x 2.0)
mating parts, the pressure applied and on the PP 0.25-0.30 (x 1.5)
surface quality. Friction between two different POM 0.20-0.35 (x 1.5)
plastic materials gives values equal to or PA 0.30-0.40 (x 1.5)
slightly below those shown in Table 3. With
PBT 0.35-0.40
PS 0.40-0.50 (x 1.2)
two components of the same plastic material,
SAN 0.45-0.55
the friction coefficient is generally higher. PC 0.45-0.55 (x 1.2)
Where the factor is known, it has been indicat- PMMA 0.50-0.60 (x 1.2)
ed in parentheses. ABS 0.50-0.65 (x 1.2)
PE flexible 0.55-0.60 (x 1.2)
PVC 0.55-0.60 (x 1.0)
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
B
Calculation example I
snap-fitting hook
Given:
a. Material = Makrolon® polycarbonate
b. Length (1) = 19 mm (0.75 in)
c. Width (b) = 9.5 mm (0.37 in)
d. Undercut (y) = 2.4 mm (0.094 in)
Fig. 19: Snap-fitting hook, design type 2, shape A
e. Angle of inclination (a) = 30°
Find: Solution:
a. Determination of wall thickness h
y = 1.09 "1
2
Friction coefficient from Table 3 (PC against PC) µ = 0.50 x 1.2 = 0.6
µ + tan !
From Fig. 18: = 1.8 For µ = 0.6 and a = 30°
1—µ tan !
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Cantilever Snap Joints B
Calculation example II
snap-fitting hook
This calculation example is for a snap-fitting
hook with a segmented ring cross section
decreasing in thickness from h at the root to h/2
at the end of the hook (see Fig. 20). This
is design type 2, shape C in Table 1.
Given:
a. Material = Bayblend® PC/ABS Fig. 20: Snap-fitting hook, design type 2, shape C
b. Length (1) = 25.4 mm (1.0 in)
Solution:
c. Angle of arc (!) = 75°
d. Outer radius (r2) = 20 mm The permissible strain for a one-time snap-fit assembly in Bayblend® resin is 2.5%. Since the
(0.787 in) design is for frequent separation and rejoining, 60% of this value should be used or " pm = (0.6)
e. Inner radius (r1) = 17.5 mm (2.5%) = 1.5%.
(0.689 in) Deflection equation from Table 1, type 2, shape C: y = 1.64 K(2) " 12
f. Thickness (h) = 2.5 mm (0.1 in)
r2
The variable for K(2) can be obtained from the curves in Fig. 10. Note that if the member is
g. #/ =!/2=37.5° deflected so that the tensile stress occurs in the convex surface, the curve for K1 should be used;
if it occurs in the concave surface, K2 should be used. In this case, the tensile stress will occur in
Find: the convex surface, therefore the curve for K2 should be used.
Alternate Solution:
This method may be used as a check or in place of using the curves in Fig. 10.
The value for c(3) which is the distance from the neutral axis to the outermost fiber, can be
calculated from the equations shown below:
c2 = r2[1– 2 sin # (1 – h/r2 + 1 )]
3# 2–h/r 2
c1 = r2[ 2 sin # + (1 – —)
h 2 sin # – 3# cos # ]
3#(2 _ h/r2) r2 3#
Use c2 for c(3), if the tensile stress occurs in the convex side of the beam. Use c1 for c(3) if the
tensile stress occurs in the concave side. For this particular problem, it is necessary to calculate c2.
c(3) = c2 = 20 mm [1 (1 – + ] = 2.52 mm
2 sin 37.5 2.5 mm 1
3 (0.654) 20 mm 2 – 2.5 mm/20mm
Solving for y using c2 yields;
y = 0.55 (0.015) (25.4 mm) = 2.11 mm (0.083 in)
2
(2.52 mm
Both methods result in a similar value for allowable deflection.
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Torsion Snap Joints C
Deflection The following relationship exists between the total angle of twist --and the deflections y1 or y2 (Fig. 21):
In the case of torsion snap joints, the deflec-
tion is not the result of a flexural load as with where
cantilever snaps but is due to a torsional y1 = y2 $ = angle of twist
deformation of the fulcrum. The torsion bar
sin $ = 11 12 Y1 , Y2 = deflections
(Fig. 21) is subject to shear.
11 , 12 = lengths of lever arm
The maximum permissible angle $pm is limited by the persmissible shear strain %pm:
where
180 %pm • 1 $pm = permissible total angle
$pm = " • r of twist in degrees
%pm = permissible shear strain
1 = length of torsion bar
(valid for circular cross section) r = radius of torsion bar
The maximum permissible shear strain %pm for plastics is approximately equal to:
where
%pm = permissible shear strain
%pm ! (1 + &) "pm "pm = permissible strain
%pm ! 1.35 "pm & = Poisson's ratio(for
plastics approx. 0.35)
Fig. 21: Snap-fitting arm with torsion bar
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Torsion Snap Joints C
Deflection force
A force P is required to deflect the lever arm
by the amount y(1,2). The deflection force can
act at points 1 or 2. For example see Fig. 21.
In this case,
where
where
ES = secant modulus
' = Poisson's ratio
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Annular Snap Joints D
Permissible undercut
Ypm = "pm .d
Note: "pm is absolute value.
W = mating force
y = undercut
Fig. 24: Annular snap joint—symbols used
! = lead angle
!' = return angle
t = wall thickness
d = diameter at the joint
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Annular Snap Joints D
Deflection force, mating force
The determination of the mating force W is
somewhat more com-plicated for annular snap
joints. This is because the snap-fitting bead on
the shaft expands a relatively large portion of
the tube (Fig. 25). Accordingly, the stress is
also distributed over a large area of the
material surrounding the bead.
1 The force P is applied at the end of the beam. (This corresponds 2 The force P is applied a long distance (co) from the end of the
to a snap joint with the groove at the end of the tube.) beam. (This is equivalent to an annular snap joint with the groove
remote from the end of the tube)
A somewhat simplified version of the theory may µ + tan !
be expressed as follows for joints near the end of W=P
the tube: 1 — µ tan !
P = y • d • Es • X where
µ = friction coefficient
where
! = lead angle
P = transverse force
y = undercut The geometric factor, assuming that the shaft
d = diameter at the joint ES = secant modulus is rigid and the outer tube (hub) is elastic, is as
Es = secant modulus follows:
X = geometric factor # (d0/d — 1) / (d0/d + 1)
XN = 0.62 [( d0/d)2 + 1]/[(d0/d)2 – 1] +&
The geometric factor X takes into account the
geometric rigidity.
where
As far as the mating force is concerned, friction d0 = external diameter of the tube
conditions and joint angles must also be taken into d = diameter at the joint
consideration. & = Poisson's ratio
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
D
If the tube is rigid and the hollow shaft
elastic, then
# (d/di – 1)/(d/di + 1)
Xw = 0.62
[(d/di)2 + 1]/[(d/di)2 – 1] – &
where
where
d = joint diameter
t = wall thickness
where
y = undercut
d = diameter,
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Annular Snap Joints D
Solution
Secant modulus ES from Fig. 16
Strain:
Ex = 2,200 MPa (320,000 psi)
y 1 mm*
"= d " = 200 mm • 100% P = 1 mm x 200 mm x 2,200 MPa x
1.7 x 10-3 = 748 N
Required:
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Both Mating Parts Elastic E
With all the examples of snap joints men- The mating force and the deformations occur- These "deflection curves" are then superim-
tioned so far, the stiffer of the two mating parts ring in two flexible mating parts can be deter- posed (Fig. 29c). The point of intersection of
was assumed to be absolutely rigid. mined most simply by using a graph. the two curves gives the actual deflection
Consequently, the more flexible of the two force P and the deflections y1 and y2.
com-ponents was theoretically deformed by For this purpose, the transverse force for each
the full amount of the undercut. component is determined as a function of With the aid of these quantities P, y1 and y2,
deflection on the assumption that the other the individual strains and the mating force can
Where both parts are deformable, however, component is absolutely rigid; a "deflective then be determined without diff i c u l t y, as
the sum of these deformations is equal to the curve" is then plotted for each mating part as described earlier.
undercut, i.e., each deformation is smaller. shown in Fig. 29a and b.
Fig. 29: Determination of deformation and transverse force when both mating parts are flexible
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Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
Symbols F
a dimensions ! angle of inclination
b dimensions !' return angle
c distance between outer fibre
and neutral fibre ( distance of snap-fitting groove
from the end
d diameter at the joint
" strain
di internal diameter
"Pm maximum allowable strain
do external diameter
"ult strain at break
Eo modulus of elasticity (intrinsic
tangential modulus) "y yield strain
ES secant modulus $ angle of twist
F friction force % shear strain
G shear modulus µ friction coefficient
H height thickness at the root ' Poisson's ratio
IP polar moment of inertia P angle of repose
K geometric factor for ring ) stress
segments
* arc angle of segment
1 length, length of lever arm
N normal force due to insertion
P deflection force
R resultant insertion force
r radius
t wall thickness
W mating force
X geometric factor for annular
snap joint
index W=shaft
index N=hub
y undercut, deflection
Z axial section modulus
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Page Snap-Fit Joints for Plastics - A Design Guide
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