Chapter 4

Very few stand-alone sheet metal components are used as a final product by themselves. Usually, a final product appears after joining one or more parts in a sheet metal product assembly. They may be fixed permanently or temporarily. A good amount of detailing goes before the realization of a final product. A flawless mating of two parts begins at a conceptual level. An innocuous hinge may have involved in-depth work with respect to matings and tolerances.

A frequently used product may have a number of parts and joints which must be durable.These may be permanent or non-permanent whose choice depends upon the nature and function of the final product. Two parts may be fixed permanently together either in a rigid way or in a flexible manner. This chapter takes a review of these aspects.

An aircraft wing asembly.
(Image source)

An electronic product assembly.
(Image source)

 

Permanent Joints

A permanent joint is one wherein the joined parts can be separated by only destructive methods.

Types of permanent joints are:

• Welding
• Brazing
• Rivetting
• Flaring
• Seaming, Hemming