Fasteners Cut Assembly Costs on Dialysis Machines

Decoupling fastening technology from Bollhoff has enabled the fast and efficient snap-on fixing of a critical pump and reduced assembly costs on dialysis machines manufactured in Germany. Using Snaploc plastic fasteners, the eccentric membrane pump can be quickly and accurately fitted and yet easily removed. Disassembly by hand is said to be critical to minimise cleaning procedures.

Previously, stainless steel screws were used to assemble and fasten the pump, but this required the use of tools and subsequently more intense and lengthy cleaning to ensure both the pump and the area where it was located on the machine were sterile. The corrosion-resistant plastic fasteners also eliminate any potential risks of contamination from oxidisation caused by disinfection processes. Another requirement for the Snaploc fasteners was the ability to withstand a 1m drop test of the packaged machine without damage and maintaining the position of the pump.

The two-component fastener comprises a cup socket that mates with a ball stud and can be repeatedly opened and closed. Its design includes tolerance compensation while the materials of construction employed provide strong, secure fixings that minimise vibration. Three basic designs of couplings have been developed for plate fastenings, for mounting domes and fixing with adhesive. Different ball diameters accommodate a range of stress conditions, while stud sizes and other physical dimensions can be varied to suit application requirements.

Ball studs are injection over-moulded in engineering plastics around steel fasteners. For the dialysis machine application the plate fastening design was used. The coupling was injection moulded in ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a resilient elastomer widely used in sealing applications, and press fitted into an aluminium casing. The ball stud is injection moulded in glass-filled polyphthalamide (PPA) and features a self-forming and self-locking thread profile with a Torx head. During the assembly of the pump, the ball studs lock into the membrane pump thread forms to provide a 'plug-and-socket' installation onto the dialysis machine.

Utilising Snaploc fastener technology in this application has reduced the number of parts in the assembly, provided fast and efficient disassembly and optimised critical cleaning downtimes.

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