How to Choose Fasteners that Maximize Assembly Life

An assembly can be held together many different ways.  The challenge for the Design Engineer is to choose a method that provides the highest quality joint with integrity over time at the lowest manufacturing cost. For many applications, a self-retaining pin is the winning solution.  The difficulty is selecting the proper pin with the appropriate strength and flexibility for the application.  This Technical White Paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of common types of pins, as well as provides guidelines as to when to use each type in certain applications.