Consider almost any manufactured product: aircraft, motor cars, televisions, computers or ships. All are really composites of a number of different elements. In previous chapters we have seen some of the means whereby the individual items and products can be produced; here, we examine the methods used to join these elements together. The joining process is usually called ‘assembly’ if mechanical fastening is being used or a number of components and ‘sub‐assemblies’ are being combined. If welding, especially fusion welding, is being used then ‘fabrication’ is normally the term applied.
This chapter looks at just some of the range of techniques for joining that are available to the manufacturing engineer. The choice of technique will depend on a variety of factors, for example, bolted joints tend to absorb vibrations better than welded joints, but a welded construction would probably be cheaper. Adhesives are becoming a popular alternative to welding and riveting as they are simple to apply, they preserve the appearance of the material and when metals are joined in this way they do not change their metallurgical properties. The choice of the joining process influences the cost of the product, aesthetic qualities and the means of repair and maintenance. Figure 16.1 is a chart showing some examples of the joining processes used in manufacturing industry; it is these that are described in the following sections.
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