This makes them useful for plastic materials. In a joined state, snap fits are usually free of load, and there is only minimal displacement. Therefore, there can be large deflections without risking damage to the parts. That is, plastic materials allow a reasonable level of strain and elasticity. Therefore, flexibility is allowed with the fits. Snap joints are often employed in plastic parts. One of the important criteria in injection molding snap fit is the displacement of flexible features while assembling and disassembling. That is, whether the fits can be released by tools/force or not. The snap design also determines if the connection will be permanent or temporary. This makes the automation of snap fit design a lot easier. Usually, users won’t necessarily need to have access to the snap fit joints before assembly. Then, it catches a feature that is present in the mating component. That is, the protruded part of a component may deflect while joining. The main aim is to catch a feature in the main component. The deflection of this protrusion occurs during assembly. In its simplest form, a snap joint is a small protrusion that can be a stud, hook, or bead.

With snap joints, there is usually no need for different types of fasteners and tools.

Snap fit joints are among the simplest and most efficient ways to assemble parts. We’ll also look at the important classifications and the best practices to overcome common prototyping issues. This article seeks to help you navigate the complex snap fits world by discussing the key features. Snap fit designs come with certain challenges. Therefore, it is vital to understand snap fit design, and it reacts with the manufacturing systems. However, 3D printed snap fit design has new opportunities. The traditional injection molding technique has proved viable for producing the snap joint. They do reduce not only material costs and part quantities but also improve ease of assembly. However, the solution lies in using snap fit design to assemble parts.ĭesigning parts with snap fit joints can save time and money in production. The manufacturing environment today also calls for the efficient production of high-quality parts. As industrial designers, you wouldn’t want exposed fasteners to compromise the aesthetics of your products.

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