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Fastener help

Horseplay

I Don't Care. Do you?
Donator
Nothing is ever easy. I am in need of a special type of fastener that, to date, I have been unable to find. I'm to the point I might just invest in a 3D printer and make my own!

What I want is a double ended stud where one end is conventional threads and the other has a press fit/locking end to secure a plastic piece to the surface of another panel. Basically, I'm looking to tightly secure a shallow trim piece (<1/4" thickness) to the surface of a panel with a hidden fastener. Something like this would be perfect.

cd_8-inch-pin_2014.01.31.jpg

The base piece is very thick so I cannot use something that would pass-through from the back side. Has to be done from the surface. I could machine a pocket in the primary piece into which I could thread the pin and have only the interference portion above the panel surface to mate with the trim. Problem is the only thing I have found so far like this is in the medical field and I haven't been able to find a source from which to buy for less than a million dollars.

My other idea (born from my redneck heritage) is to just cut the head of a bolt or screw and thread it in and press the trim over the headless end. The trim is a flexible rubber like plastic so this will likely work but if anyone is familiar with a fastener made for this type of application (surface pairing of two pieces)...and there has to be one...please give me some direction. Ideal sizing would be something in the neighborhood of 1/4" max diameter with a interference shaft length above the panel surface of 3/16". I could always also screw the threaded end into the trim and use a longer press fit shaft to go into the base material. this might actually be the better way to go now that I type it...
 
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Nothing is ever easy. I am in need of a special type of fastener that, to date, I have been unable to find. I'm to the point I might just invest in a 3D printer and make my own!

What I want is a double ended stud where one end is conventional threads and the other has a press fit/locking end to secure a plastic piece to the surface of another panel. Basically, I'm looking to tightly secure a shallow trim piece (<1/4" thickness) to the surface of a panel with a hidden fastener. Something like this would be perfect.

View attachment 29573

The base piece is very thick so I cannot use something that would pass-through from the back side. Has to be done from the surface. I could machine a pocket in the primary piece into which I could thread the pin and have only the interference portion above the panel surface to mate with the trim. Problem is the only thing I have found so far like this is in the medical field and I haven't been able to find a source from which to buy for less than a million dollars.

My other idea (born from my redneck heritage) is to just cut the head of a bolt or screw and thread it in and press the trim over the headless end. The trim is a flexible rubber like plastic so this will likely work but if anyone is familiar with a fastener made for this type of application (surface pairing of two pieces)...and there has to be one...please give me some direction. Ideal sizing would be something in the neighborhood of 1/4" max diameter with a interference shaft length above the panel surface of 3/16". I could always also screw the threaded end into the trim and use a longer press fit shaft to go into the base material. this might actually be the better way to go now that I type it...

Use liquid nails.
 
Anyone do dental implants near you?
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I think I found a winner. Hit a couple hardware stores and started digging through all the misc. parts drawers and found this.

stud.jpg

Overall length is just over 1/2". I'm going to cut a slot in the top of the machine screw threaded end to allow the use of a flat head screwdriver to drive the sheet metal threaded end into the substrate material and have just about 1/8" of the stud standing above the surface. A slightly undersized hole drilled in the trim piece should hold firmly against the threads when pressed down onto it.

I think I've got this latest problem solved!
 
3D printers are awesome. I worked on a project where we needed to provide a stop to prevent ramming the radar rack into the building wall. I suggested 3D printer stops and the management was dumbfounded. The result worked perfectly but I got little credit for coming up with the innovative idea
 
3D printing was thought of as a possible solution as I'm thisclose to buying one. Just trying to finalize selection. There are a lot of manufacturers and models out there and they are certainly not all created equal. I want to make sure what I get will serve the purposes for a while. "Resolution", media types and part size limitations are the key variables I am trying to find in the right unit. I want to be able to use various plastics depending on part need while not being too restricted in final product size.

Anyone got firsthand experience with any units? Guidance?
 
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