Ordering is easy! Call the customer support line at 877-467-BOLT (2658) or shop anytime using our online store. We accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and terms (purchase order with approved credit).

Most Invert-A-Bolt™ fasteners and insertion tools are stocked. For modular components and cutting tools the lead time is from 1 to 5 weeks depending upon the product. Common Modular fixtures are made to order and will take several weeks to ship. Once your products are shipped, you will receive a tracking number by e-mail. For more specific information regarding your order please call customer service toll free at 877-462-BOLT.

Our market exposure is greatest in the Aerospace industry, but we have also made sales to the commercial OEM industry as well as the Semi-conductor industry. As our market exposure increases we expect to service manufactures of all types in many industries since our fasteners and modular fixtures can be applied to a multitude of manufacturing processes. Our customer list includes: Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, GKN, Focus: Hope Manufacturing, Heroux-Devtek, Lockheed, Raytheon, Sikorsky Aircraft, United Space Alliance, Veeco, Warner-Robbins AFB, as well as many of their suppliers.  In short,these products are suited for manufacturers in many diverse industries.

Due to the unique design of the Invert-A-Bolt™ outer housing, it would be rather difficult to install the housing completely without the insertion tool designed just for that purpose (flush mount application). The Invert-A-Bolt™ T-slot work supports do not require any special installation tools. The other products, however, do require installation tools. See the applicable catalog page to determine the correct part number for the insertion tool.

Thread milling is probably the fastest way to thread the holes if there are a great number of them. Otherwise, a tap is adequate for producing the thread. We sell left-hand taps as a convenience. Recommendations and step-by-step instructions can be obtained here. Also, drilling, milling and thread mill programs can be obtained here. For applications in which excessive vibration is an issue, a Spiralock® tap should be used to create the receiving side hole used to accept the stud.

The torque wrench or pneumatic wrench should be set to a maximum torque of 35 ft-lbs. for the installation of the housing into the plate. Higher settings may result in damage to the insertion tool. Torque settings for pulling the stud into the mating material will vary based upon the IVB product being used. In general a setting of 30 ft-lbs. should be adequate. Higher settings may be used with the 1/2" & 5/8" diameter up to 45 ft-lbs. Excessive torque in soft metals may result in stripping of the threads in the receiving side hole. Click on the picture of the applicable fastener found on the shopping page to obtain exact information.

See above question about maximum torque values. Typically this problems occurs when a pneumatic wrench is used at a torque level set higher than the recommended level. To alleviate the problem, consider setting the torque level lower, use a rachet type wrench when engaging the product with the part, or use a ball-end hex wrench. Note, a refurbishment kit can be purchased to replace the internal components of the fastener, including the stripped stud. If you are using a "C" type fastener, consider going to an "N" type fastener, which will have a thicker wall at the hex.

Double check the counter-bore hole size. It should correspond to the minor diameter of the outer thread of the housing. This hole size is critical to the successful installation of the fastener. Also insure that the hole has been prepared to the Installation and Operating Instructions.

Make sure that you are using enough torque when screwing in the stud. Recommended settings range from 30 ft-lbs. and up. Also, consider the material being machined and the fastener being used. Harder materials will require higher torques and the smaller stud fasteners won't be able to be torqued as high due to their hex size. Also, try using a Spiralock® tap which incorporates proprietary thread forms to improve resistance to vibration.

Maintenance is generally limited to replacement of the stud when damaged or the hex is stripped out. However, all the internal components of the fastener can be easily replaced either individually or with a refurbishment kit. To limit maintenance issues it is very important to use the plastic cap that is shipped with the fastener when the fastener is not in use. The cap is provided so as to prevent debris from entering the fastener when not in use. Also, to improve the life of the hex in the stud, use a ball-end hex wrench.

There is a full 90 day warranty on Invert-A-Bolt™ fasteners and insertion tools. The company will replace any defective part due to defects in the material or workmanship of the product. If the warranty period has expired, the product can be refurbished.

Typically this situation occurs in vertical machining when the Invert-A-Bolt™ fastener is in the "dis-engaged" position and is not being used. The flow of coolant and chips in this situation may result in accumulations inside the housing. This is a common hazard to vertical machining applications in which the Invert-A-Bolt™ fastener is not dedicated in its use. Your product is shipped with a cap that closes the hole in the top and it should be used when the IVB fastener is not in use.

Refurbishment kits consist of all the components that are internal to the fastener. Additionally, the covers and studs can be purchased individually if a complete refurbishment kit is unnecessary. We do not provide a replacement for the housing.

There are several factors which affect overall performance when considering a comparison between clamps and Invert-A-Bolt™ fasteners:

a) Typically a machine operator spends a great deal of time searching for the right length bolts (for the heel and stud of the clamp) when initially setting up a job run. (This is a common problem when a NC program counter-bores a hole to a certain depth requiring a "right length" bolt to accommodate the hole.) The machine operator may actually cut bolts or modify the mill fixture if the right length bolts cannot be located. This time can be multiplied if a double sided part is being milled (and thus two sets of bolts are required). Often the bolts are not kept with the mill fixture and thus, for every job run, this process (and wasted time and effort) is repeated.

b) Various time and materials issues concerning the clamp as an obstruction to the machining process. (NC Programmer - must program around the clamps and find efficient machining sequences while considering clamp changes, Machine operator - must move clamps during machining operations. Two different sets of bolts may be required for the clamp changes when considering double sided parts. The probability of hitting clamps and causing damage to the part, endmill, and/or machine tool is high.)

c) Additional material required on the mill fixture to position clamps. (Typically clamps are 2" to 4" long and the mill fixture is increased in size to accommodate this stickout away from the part stock.)

d) If the part configuration requires bolting from the backside, no special mill fixtures (bridge fixtures, double sub-plate fixtures, etc.) are required.

Other thoughts:
The Invert-A-Bolt™ fastener is not necessarily ideal for every machining application. Ideally, it can be applied to parts that can be "picture framed" and tooling tabs can be used to hold the part during machining. Some of the highlights of the product are:

a) The inverted bolt is maintained in a "housing" which is secured in the mill fixture. The housing is threaded and thus allows for easily replacing the Invert-A-Bolt™ assembly should it become damaged. This also allows for the bolts to always be available at each production run (or whenever it is used). There is no need for a machine operator to find right size bolts.

b) The bolt contained in the Invert-A-Bolt™ assembly sticks up into the part approximately .45" or less. Only the stud part of the bolt sticks up into the part. This allows for a minimal obstruction surface of Diameter X .45" for each Invert-A-Bolt™ Fastener. This provides a much smaller obstruction during the machining process and requires no changes. (In fact, the stud can also be recessed completely during the process which could allow for the tooling tab to be milled completely off during the machining process.)

c) No additional stock is required on the mill fixture outside the part stock limits.

d) Because only the stud sticks up into the part (the "footprint" of the IVB fastener is the diameter of the stud), part stock requirements can be reduced.

e) All machining operations required to make the mill fixture (holding the Invert-A-Bolt™ fasteners) are performed from one side. There is no requirement to flip the mill fixture over to prepare or install the Invert-A-Bolt™ products. This means all preparation is from the front side of the mill fixture.

f) Multi-Purpose Holes™, Work Supports, Fasteners and Modular Components can be used to create an Invert-A-Bolt™ Common Modular Fixture allowing for a mill fixture that can accommodate both conventional clamping as well as Invert-A-Bolt™ products. A very flexible and efficient mill fixture concept can be designed since all the IVB Products are installed from the front of the mill fixture and use a threaded housing.

g) By using Invert-A-Bolt™ products, the need for helical inserts in an aluminum mill fixture is eliminated.

h) Invert-A-Bolt™ products are being used in production environments at many manufacturers across the United States. The products are well received and being used successfully in many part/mill fixture applications/configurations.

Be certain that the chamfer on the "receiving" side is being machined. Either add the chamfer (if left out) or increase its size to enhance the ability of the stud to align itself with the receiving hole, thus alleviating the problem. See the installation and operating instructions page for additional information.

(This question applies to AA02-001-001 fasteners and work supports only). First, insure that the stud has been properly screwed down into the housing. If it continues to "pop up" then the drive ring has failed and requires replacement. This is a result of wear on the drive ring. A refurbishment kit can be purchased to replace the drive ring.

For many milling applications and manufacturing solutions, using universal fixturing is a very efficient use of resources and an excellent holding solution for many manufactured parts. Here are some of the advantages for using universal fixturing as opposed to conventional fixturing: Reduce overall tooling costs by:

• Eliminate dedicated fixturing and creating a "standard" tooling plate.
• Eliminate tool design and tool build for dedicated mill-fixtures.
• The tool once in service is used perpetually for all applicable part configurations. This has several advantages:
  • The tool is not stored "somewhere out there", its always in use and doesn't require additional storage area(s) to be utilized. (Not to mention, identification, indexing, and other inventory considerations.)
  • Eliminate maintenancing of dedicated mill-fixtures.
  • Eliminate perpetual capital investment in dedicated fixturing.
  • The cost of the tool can be spread over many parts to reduce "one-time" tooling expense.
  • Eliminate load and unload time for dedicated mill fixtures.
• Establish standardized work holding techniques.
• Eliminate duplicate fixturing.

In addition, by constructing or purchasing a universal fixture using Invert-A-Bolt™ components the following

• Provides the unique benefits of Invert-A-Bolt™ products.
• Provides use of other modular fixturing components together with Invert-A-Bolt™ products.
• Since Invert-A-Bolt™ products are designed to allow for tolerance variations, the cost of the Invert-A-Bolt™ Universal Fixture is lower than other commercially available products because precision locating requirements are reduced.

This information is included in the applicable catalog pages. See also the following FAQ.

Yes. Failure testing has been performed on the AA02-001-001, AA02-010-001, and AA03-010-001 fasteners. Following is an excerpt from the AA03-010-001 test report:

"Six fasteners of the above part number were received for tensile and shear testing (three each). Due to the specialized nature of the fastener, it was necessary to produce a unique test fixture to allow for proper testing. The test fixture was designed such that the same fixture could be used to perform both the tensile and shear test.

The test results for both tensile and shear testing follow. In all cases the tensile failures occurred in the hex recess area of the 1/2-13 threaded end as would be expected. the shear failures occurred partially in the hex recess area. Of special note - the shear failures were not typical of shear failures in standard fasteners. Instead of the normal abrupt shearing action, these fasteners deform and slowly tear. For purposes of this report, shear failure was defined as the initial point of macro deformation."

 

* The psi (stress) is calculated from the thread stress area (.1419); however, this number is not accurate because it is based on a solid cross-section and this part has a hex recess which subtracts from the cross-sectional area.
** The third test result was not valid because the 1/2"-13 screw was not properly engaged into the test fixture.

Following is the test data for the AA02-001-001 (1" dia. housing x .801" length, 1/2"-13 Stud) product:

*Note: All failures occurred at the housing.

Following is the test data for the AA02-010-001 (1" dia. housing x 1.150" length, 1/2"-13 Stud) product:

*Note: Housing was backed off from screw.

Using a locking solution (like Loctite®) to secure the Invert-A-Bolt™ housing is not recommended. This practice defeats the unique characteristic of the Invert-A-Bolt™ product to be easily maintenanced from the top of the fixture or completely replaced, if need be. The housing is designed with a left hand thread so that movement will be away from the part.

It may be necessary to re-apply anti-seize compound to the locating portion of the stud.