Guide to Aerospace Fasteners Basics

Find the aviation fasteners your business needs

By Ben Hahn, Freelance Writer

1. Better understand national aerospace standards.
2. Find distributors selling aerospace fasteners from a number of leading manufacturers.
3. Purchase aerospace fasteners online conforming to military standards.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase aviation fasteners conforming to the correct national aerospace standard

There are a number of aircraft fastener specifications, including military (MS), Air Force-Navy (AN), Boeing and National Aerospace Standard (NAS). The majority of commercial aircraft fastener manufacturers create products conforming to NAS.

I recommend: The Aerospace Industries Association provides access to National Aerospace standards online as well as military standards. You can purchase and download thousands of aircraft fastener standards from Techstreet as well.

Find an aerospace fastener distributor offering thousands of products online

Some of the top aerospace rivet and fastener manufacturers include Cherry, Alcoa, Fairchild and Monogram. Rather than look through each manufacturer's catalog, you can find certified distributors online offering access to thousands of fasteners from the top manufacturers.

I recommend: Peerless is an approved supplier of most aerospace manufacturers, and carry products including Monogram aerospace fasteners and Cherry fasteners. Aero Fastener is a distributor representing a number of aerospace fastener manufacturers. Use their website to search their stock for the part you need.

Purchase military aerospace fasteners from online manufacturers or distributors

If your business deals with military aircraft or vehicles designed with military specifications, you need aerospace fasteners that comply with military standards. Some fastener distributors and manufacturers carry products for an array of standards, while others focus specifically on fasteners for military applications.

I recommend: The Fastener Group provides thousands of military fasteners. Their online catalog allows customers to search by part number or view the entire inventory, making it easy to find the fastener you're looking for. Mil-Spec Fasteners specializes in fasteners for all kinds of military vehicles, including aircraft. They have an immense inventory, with hundreds of millions of parts in stock, and have intimate knowledge about all aspects of the aerospace fastener industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many aerospace fasteners manufacturers create similar products. If brand name is not an issue but price is, request price quotes from multiple manufacturers to find the best deal on the fastener your business needs.

Guide to Aerospace Fasteners

Find the aviation fasteners you need

By Ben Hahn, Freelance Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Follow national aerospace standards when purchasing aviation fasteners

It's important that your team follows the correct standards and specifications on any aviation project. Buy the aerospace bolts and nuts that fit national standards. If you're unsure of the correct standard to follow, distributors may be able to supply or sell you a full list of national standards.

I recommend: The IHS Standards Expert is a software program that tracks multiple up-to-date standards. Request a quote online before purchasing this software. If you already know and track aerospace standards you need to follow, AerospaceSuppliers.com offers a handy search tool for multiple aviation parts and services that comply with any standard you specify.

Find an online aerospace distributor with a comprehensive catalog of parts

You can speed up your search for the right aviation fasteners by locating the parts you need on the first try. If you need a wide variety of fasteners, look for a distributor that stocks a wide selection of fasteners.

I recommend: HC Pacific has an easy to use online inventory search. Search by entering the parts number, or download their entire inventory. Mil-Spec Fasteners boasts an inventory of over 195 million fasteners in stock. Request to purchase a full catalog on their website.

Locate a supplier that offers repair services

If you don't want to do repairs yourself, or if you want an expert's opinion when doing them, look for an aerospace fastener distributor who offers to do repairs as well as sell the parts you need. Shopping for parts and maintenance in the same place will streamline your repair schedule.

I recommend: Heico sells a variety of products and services. See a full list of what they offer on their website.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to the standard catalog of fasteners, a number of online distributors offer a selection of nonstandard or hard to find aerospace fasteners.

Guide to Pricing and Costs of Aerospace Fasteners

Find aircraft fasteners at the right price for your business

By Ben Hahn, Freelance Writer

1. Find aerospace fasteners provides offering kits or bulk purchases.
2. Use parts made of the most cost-effective materials.
3. Get the most bang for your buck with aerospace fasteners by comparing costs from multiple providers.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Save on bulk purchases or aircraft fasteners kits

Buying hundreds or thousands of aerospace fasteners at a time will save you a bundle on the cost per fasteners. Many aerospace fastener distributors offer kits including multiple fastener types.

I recommend: Genuine Aircraft Hardware sells a variety of assortments and kits of related fasteners at discount prices, ranging from around $100 to $500 for hundreds of bolts or nuts. Skybolt offers full replacement kits for a variety of airplane makes, including Cessna, Beech, Mooney, Piper and more, with pricing dependent upon the make and model.

Find cost-effective aerospace fasteners

Fasteners are what hold a moving aircraft together, so it's important that they're made from the strongest materials possible, but at the same time you need to make projects cost-effective. Products that are made from more durable materials or specialized designs may cost more per piece than other fasteners, but can reduce maintenance and upkeep costs over the life of an aircraft.

I recommend: Alcoa offers a number of Huck Lockbolts, lightweight titanium aerospace fasteners that speed up installation time and reduce aircraft weight. Fatigue Technology offers provides aerospace fasteners with unconventional designs, like the ForceTec Rivetless Nut, that are highly cost-effective due to decreased installation and maintenance needs.

Compare multiple aerospace fastener supplier prices

Most major aircraft fastener manufacturers rely on the same set of standards, and may have similar or nearly identical products. If you find two competitors offering fasteners that will fit your needs, request a price quote from each to determine the better deal. Many manufacturers do not have published list prices, but have online forms that make price quote requests a quick and simple process.

I recommend: Jet-Tek provides aerospace fasteners meeting a number of national aerospace standards. Request a quote from their website for the part and manufacturer you need. HC Pacific has an inventory featuring thousands of aviation fasteners. Request a quick quote online for multiple fasteners.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many aerospace fastener manufacturers list technical data and specifications for fasteners online, allowing you the chance to research a product in depth before you make a purchase, and determine the differing qualities of fasteners at competing prices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

AS9100

AS9100 is a standard for quality management in the aerospace industry set forward by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Aerospace fasteners should be AS9100 certified.

I recommend: The AS9100 Store explains what the AS9100 standard is, how it's overseen and why companies choose to become AS9100 certified.

Preload, or clamp force

The preload, or clamp force, of a bolt is essentially how much holding power it can be expected to exert on a bolted joint when properly tightened. Because this affects the strength of the bolted joint, it is a critical consideration in the aerospace fasteners industry.

I recommend: Bolt Science explains the function of clamp force, or preload, in figuring the strength of a bolted joint.

ISO 9100:2008

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets and oversees certain standards for quality control in various manufacturing and service industries. Aerospace fasteners manufacturers pride themselves on being ISO 9100:2008-compliant; this shows that they are following appropriate quality-management procedures.

I recommend: Praxiom Research Group breaks the ISO 9100:2008 standard for quality management down into plain English.

Titanium

Titanium is a particularly strong and light metal alloy with a high tolerance for heat, making it the perfect material for many aerospace fasteners.

I recommend: wiseGEEK explains the history and use of titanium in fasteners and other high-performance applications.

Superalloy

A superalloy is a nickel-, cobalt- or iron-based combination of three or more metals with superior creep properties, oxidation resistance and temperature strength. Waspaloy is an example of a superalloy commonly used in the aerospace fasteners industry.

I recommend: Global Spec explains the properties, characteristics, uses and designation of superalloys in a variety of industries, including aerospace.

AIA

The Aerospace Industries Association represents manufacturers of aerospace equipment and dictates the technical standards that fasteners must meet for use in the aerospace industry.

I recommend: The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) offers comprehensive information and news on the aerospace industry and sells copies of its standards, either individually or as a set.