Aircraft Bolts: Basics
Posted by admin , on Apr, 2017
What are aircraft bolts?
These are hardware items that include many types of fasteners and small items used for the assembly and repair of aircraft systems and components. Before buying those bolts, one must first ensure that the bolts were manufactured using an approved manufacturing process, says the Federal Aviation Administration. That’s why it’s important to make sure you find an Aircraft Bolt supplier that complies with manufacturing standards in the industry.
Types of bolts
Many of the bolts used in the aircraft industry fall into 2 types: bolts used for general purposes and those used for internal wrenching. However, manufacturers also produce bolts that demonstrate greater strength, durability and sturdiness that make them ideal for specific applications. Replacements bolts must also be stronger.
Identifying the bolts
It’s easy to tell which bolts you need since these items come with code markings on the head. This is an easy way for you to determine what kind of material the bolt is made from and whether it’s a standard bolt or not. Some bolts come with the manufacturer’s name as well.
Standard bolts
If you see a raised dash or asterisk, then that means you have AN standard steel bolts. Steel bolts with a single dash denote the item’s corrosion-resistant properties while AN-aluminum alloy bolts have two raised dashes.
Special-application bolts
These bolts include higher or lower strength types along with close-tolerance ones. In addition, they typically come with SPEC markings along with the manufacturer’s part number on the head. If you don’t see any markings, that means you’re dealing with low-strength bolts while close-tolerance NAS bolts come with a triangle, sometimes raised or recessed. If you see bolts with colored lacquer, that indicates the need to use non-destructive inspection on the bolts. This can be achieved through magnetic particle inspection.
All in all, these markings should make it easy for you to shop for these parts from your go-to Aircraft Bolt supplier.
