3.4 Joining

Question 1

Adhesives

Answer 1

Used to join/stick different materials together

Question 2

What is contact adhesive used for?

Answer 2

Used for bonding large areas such as sheet materials together.
Can join the same or different materials together.

Question 3

How is contact adhesive used?

Answer 3

The two surfaces to be joined are coated in contact adhesive and left for a few minutes until the adhesive feels tacky.
On contact with the other surface, adhesion is instant

Question 4

What is acrylic cement?

Answer 4

A clear liquid to join polymers such as acrylic together.

Question 5

How does acrylic cement work?

Answer 5

Acrylic cement softens the surface of the polymers to be joined allowing them to fuse together.

Question 6

What is epoxy resin?

Answer 6

A two part adhesive (resin and hardener).

Question 7

How is epoxy resin used?

Answer 7

The two parts are mixed together in equal parts. Used to join different materials together.

Question 8

What is PVA (polyvinyl acetate)

Answer 8

A white liquid water based adhesive, which is not usually water proof.

Question 9

How is PVA used?

Answer 9

Used to join woods and wood composite materials together.

Question 10

What is hot melt glue?

Answer 10

A cylindrical solid stick of adhesive which is melted in a hot glue gun and applied. Not a structurally strong adhesive.

Question 11

How is hot melt glue used?

Answer 11

Applied using a glue gun, which has a heating element to melt the glue stick.
Used to join different materials.

Question 12

What is superglue (cyanoacrylate)

Answer 12

A fast setting clear liquid which works best in the presence of slight moisture.

Question 13

How is superglue used?

Answer 13

Reacts with the moisture to create a very tight and instant bond.
Used to join different materials together.

Question 14

What is polystyrene cement?

Answer 14

A clear gel consistency liquid used to join rigid polystyrene polymers together.

Question 15

How is polystyrene cement used?

Answer 15

Polystyrene cement softens the surface of the polymers to be joined, allowing them to fuse together when the cement hardens.
Adhesion is not instant on contact, allowing parts to be positioned before the adhesive dries.

Question 16

Mechanical joining

Answer 16

Mechanical joining uses parts to create a join which may be used to ease production assembly.

Question 17

Uses of screws

Answer 17

Joining wood to wood, metal to wood or wood to sheet polymer.

Question 18

How screws are used?

Answer 18

A clearance hole is drilled in the top part to be joined and a pilot hole is drilled into the bottom part to be joined. this aids the screw to bite into the material to create the join.

Question 19

Uses of nuts, bolts and washers?

Answer 19

Joins materials for disassembly or to allow access for repair.

Question 20

How are nuts, bolts and washers used?

Answer 20

The bolt sits in a clearance hole drilled through both parts to be joined.
The bolt usually has a washer and then a nut on the threaded end to be tightened and create the join.
Washers spread the load applied by the nut and prevent material damage from the nut being tightened.

Question 21

Uses of rivets?

Answer 21

Rivets are generally used to join thin sheet metal together.

Question 22

How are rivets used?

Answer 22

Riveting uses two pieces which are overlapped and drilled, then hammered over to join.

Question 23

Uses of pop rivets?

Answer 23

Pop rivets join thin sheet metal but are very useful for where the underside of the joint is inaccessible.

Question 24

How are pop rivets used?

Answer 24

Pop riveting uses a rivet gun and a rivet and pin.

Question 25

Uses of press joining?

Answer 25

Joins thin ductile sheet metals together, more often used for bulk sheet metal applications.

Question 26

How is press joining used?

Answer 26

Material to be joined is placed in a machine and pressed between a punch and die.
Under pressure the metal deforms into an interlocked shape.
Press joining is not as strong as riveting.

Question 27

Heat joining

Answer 27

Used for permanently joining metals.

Question 28

Oxy-acetylene welding

Answer 28

Uses a steel filler rod to create the weld.
Useful for repair jobs or where there is no electrical supply.

Question 29

MIG welding

Answer 29

Uses an electrode wire with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or argon.
Suitable for thin gauge metals.

Question 30

Brazing (Hard soldering)

Answer 30

Uses a brass filler rod using either oxy-acetylene or a gas/compressed air brazing hearth.
Suited for one off production or small batch.
Joins dissimilar metals.

Question 31

Soft soldering

Answer 31

Generally joins copper or brass for light use applications.
Uses a filler rod to flow between the metal surfaces to create the join.
Carried out using a soldering iron or gas torch.

Question 32

Jointing

Answer 32

Traditional wood joints used in manufacture.

Question 33

What is a comb joint used for?

Answer 33

Box conduction, decorative edge joining

Question 34

What is a housing joint used for?

Answer 34

Framework construction, cabinets and shelving

Question 35

What is a half lap joint used for?

Answer 35

Simple frames, boxes

Question 36

What is a dowel joint used for?

Answer 36

Lightweight shelving or corner joining.

Question 37

What is a mortise and tenon joint used for?

Answer 37

Frame construction

Question 38

Knock down fittings

Answer 38

Allow products to be assembled and disassembled numerous times without weakening the joint.
Often used in flat pack furniture.

Question 39

Types of knock down fittings

Answer 39

• corner blocks
• CAM lock fittings
• barrel and screw
• cabinet hinges