Blind-bolt style fasteners, including Composi-Loks® and Jo-Bolts®, play a crucial role in aerospace applications, offering a secure and efficient method for joining structural components. In this article, we delve into the features, applications, advantages, and disadvantages of these fasteners, along with traditional removal methods and the innovative approach offered by E-Drill technology.
Blind-bolt style fasteners are specialized fastening solutions designed for applications where access to both sides of the joint is limited or impossible. Composi-Loks typically consist of a threaded stud with a tapered head and a mating nut or receptacle, while Jo-Bolts feature a threaded body with a head that expands upon installation to create a secure fit.
Why Are They Common in Aerospace?
Blind-bolt style fasteners are widely used in aerospace due to their ability to provide strong, reliable joints in structures made from composite materials, thin-walled components, and other challenging substrates. Their ability to create a secure connection without requiring access to both sides of the joint makes them invaluable in aircraft assembly and repair.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
The advantages of blind-bolt style fasteners include their ability to provide high strength and reliability, ease of installation in confined spaces, and suitability for a wide range of materials. However, they may also have disadvantages such as limited shear and tensile strength compared to traditional bolts, potential for damage during installation, and difficulty in removal.
Where Are They Typically Found?
Blind-bolt style fasteners are commonly used in aerospace applications, including aircraft assembly, maintenance, and repair. They can be found in areas such as wing panels, fuselage structures, interior components, and engine assemblies, where access for conventional fastening methods is limited.
Traditional Removal Methods: Removing blind-bolt style fasteners using traditional methods often involves drilling, cutting, or grinding to access and extract the fastener. This process can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and may result in damage to surrounding structures or components.
E-Drill Technology:
A Better Solution E-Drill technology offers a revolutionary approach to fastener removal, providing a faster, more precise, and damage-free alternative to traditional methods. By utilizing electro-discharge machining (EDM), E-Drill can quickly and efficiently remove blind-bolt style fasteners with minimal disruption to surrounding structures. This innovative solution not only saves time and labor but also reduces the risk of damage and improves overall safety in aerospace maintenance and repair operations.
Perfect Point offers specialized removal kits, such as the mechanical locator kit, designed for specific blind-bolt applications. This kit seamlessly integrates into the existing vacuum locator tooling, securely locking into place using mechanical features like the cruciform recess in the head of the blind-bolts. This innovation eliminates the reliance on visual locating techniques, ensuring precise, mechanically concentric alignment over the fastener head for a perfect cut every time.
Blind-bolt fasteners, including Composi-Loks® and Jo-Bolts, are critical components in aerospace assembly and maintenance. Traditional removal methods often pose challenges and risks, but E-Drill technology presents a superior solution that enhances efficiency, accuracy, and safety in fastener removal operations. As the aerospace industry evolves, adopting innovative technologies like E-Drill will be essential for achieving optimal performance and reliability.
Using E-Drill for blind-bolt removal offers several distinct advantages. Its precision and efficiency greatly reduce the risk of damage to surrounding structures and minimize debris generation. Additionally, E-Drill’s non-contact technology ensures a safer, more reliable solution for fastener removal in aerospace applications, maintaining structural integrity with minimal disruption.
Example Blind Bolt Manufacturer Part Numbers
| Part Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 110-223-04-02 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-04-06 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-05-06 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-05-07 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-06-03 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-06-04 | Blind Fastener |
| 110-223-06-06 | Blind Fastener |
| 3255-99964-00 | Blind Fastener |
| B0207001-5-150 | Blind Fastener |
| B0207001-5-400 | Blind Fastener |
| B0207001-6-300 | Blind Fastener |
| B0207001-6-400 | Blind Fastener |
| CR7311U0806 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| CR7620S-06-04D | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| HS5912-05-05 | Blind Bolt |
| HS5912-05-06 | Blind Bolt |
| MBF2013S-5-200 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF2112-8-450 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF2112-8-550 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF2112-8-650 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF2120-6-100 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF2122-6-450 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF3004S-5-250 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF3006S-6-300 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF3006S-6-450 | Blind Fastener |
| MBF3006S-6-800 | Blind Fastener |
| MHS5912-05-04 | Blind Bolt |
| MHS5912-06-05 | Blind Bolt |
| MS21140S0402 | Blind Fastener |
| MS21140U0515 | Blind Fastener 100 Flush Head |
| MS21141U0502 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS21141U0506 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS21141U0607P | Blind Fastener |
| MS21141U0609P | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90353-0505 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353-0506 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353-0509 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| MS90353-0808 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| MS90353-1011 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| MS90353S0604 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| MS90353U0503 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353U0506 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353U0509 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353U0602 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353U0605 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90353U0606 | Blind Fastener 100 Flush Head |
| MS90353U0612 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| MS90354-05-02 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354-05-05-DEL | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354-0506 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354-0507 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354-06-04-DEL | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354-0804 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354S0503 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354S0508 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354S0604 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354S0605 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354S0607 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354S0608 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354U0502 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354U0509 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354U0605 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354U0610 | Blind Fastener High Strength |
| MS90354U0802 | Blind Fastener |
| MS90354U0808 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| MS90354U0811 | Blind Fastener Protruding Head |
| NAS1669-08L4 | Blind Fastener Hexagon Head – Steel |
| NAS1669-08L6 | Blind Fastener Hexagon Head – Steel |
| NAS1669-3LB | Blind Fastener |
| NAS1670-08DL3 | Blind Fastener |
| NAS1670-08DL6 | Blind Fastener |
| NAS1670-08L3 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| NAS1670-08L4 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| NAS1670-08L5 | Blind Fastener |
| NAS1670-08L7 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| NAS1670-3L12 | Blind Fastener Flush Head |
| NAS1673-3L7 | Blind Fastener Internally Thread |
| PLT1080X-5-2 | Blind Fastenr- Titanium |
| PLT1080X-5-4 | Blind Fastenr- Titanium |
| PLT1080X-5-5 | Blind Fastenr- Titanium |
| PLT1080X-6-5 | Blind Fastenr- Titanium |
| PLT1087L5-3 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT1088-6-4 | Blind Fastenr- Titanium |
| PLT1088L-5-3 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT1092-5-6 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT1092-6-2 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT1092-6-5 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT1105-6-5 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT114-5-2 | Blind Fastener Alloy |
| PLT214-10-10 | Blind Fastener – Visu-Lok |
| PLT214-6-8X | Blind Fastener Alloy Steel Oversize |
| PLT5410-05-03 | Blind Fastener |
| PLT6001-6-4 | Blind Fastener 120 Flush Head Shear |
| PLT6002-6-6 | Blind Fastener 120 Flush |
| PLT6002-6-9 | Blind Fastener 120 Flush Head |
| SS5053-5-10 | Blind Fastener |
Visu-Lok®, Composi-Lok®, Radial-Lok®, OSI-Bolt®, Wedgelock® are Registered Trademarks of Monogram Aerospace Fasteners, Inc. Monogram Aerospace Fasteners is a TriMas Company. Perfect Point EDM, Corp. has no affiliation with Monogram Aerospace Fasteners, Inc. or Tri-Mas.
