Externally threaded fasteners is what we are blogging about.

Many times a print will come in to be quoted with material called out to be “Grade 8,” “Grade 4.8, “, “B7” or something similar.
Where can you find the material, chemistry, process, and mechanical requirements when given these ‘clues?’
Hint number 1: If the dimensions are customary US units, try SAE J429 Mechanical and Material Requirements for Externally Threaded Fasteners. J429 calls out grades 1, 2, 4, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 8, 8.1, 8.2 J429 is  available from SAE. J429 link.
Hint number 2: If they are metric, try  SAE J1199Mechanical and Material Requirements for Metric Externally Threaded Fasteners. J1199 calls out 4.6, 4.8, 5.8, 8.8, 9.8, and 10.9. J1199 is available from SAE here. SAE J1199 link.
Hint number 3: Bolts with a “B” prefix like B7, B7M, B8, B8A etc can be found in ASTM A 193 Alloy Steel and Stainless Steel Bolting Materials For High Temperature Service. available from ATSM. A193 link.
These are covered by the bolt specs too.

One final thought. These are not the only sources of bolt grade designations by number. ISO 898-1 is another document for metric bolting materials.
Photos credit- PMPA Active Member Huron Automatic Screw Company.

Why you should care.

We're not getting these from customers anymore!
We're not getting these from customers anymore!

There actually has been a payoff to our shops from our investment and implementation of ISO/TS Quality Systems. That payoff is a reduction in audits from customers. Prior to the widespread adoption of ISO/TS, we were besieged by auditors from multiple customers. Auditors with multiple points of view. And multiple concerns. So our work looked like this:
W(o)=Customers^(auditors^points of view^concerns-1)
Where
W(o)= Our work
and
Concerns-1 = That rare case where two different auditors actually thought the same about an issue.
Customer audits actually added complexity!
Complexity added confusion.
Confusion added cost while lowering our capability.
Now that we can all agree on the cost savings of using the internationally recognized ISO/TS Quality System Standard, by no longer hosting multiple auditors from multiple customers with multiple concerns and points of view, we won’t mind having to buy the newest revision.
ISO has just published a new edition of ISO/TS 16949:2009, which replaces  the 2002 edition many of our shops are currently following.   The IATF has set a transition period of 120 days from date of publication of the new edition – 15 June – for organizations to comply with the standard’s requirements. Communique.
There are no essential changes to the technical requirements. The modifications relate mainly to the management requirements in the document to reflect the content of ISO 9001:2008, and those that are intended to improve consistency with the environmental management system standard, ISO 14001:2004.
The current update incorporates the requirements of ISO 9001:2008, as well as detailed, sector-specific requirements for

  1. Employee competence, awareness and training;
  2. Design and development;
  3. Production and service provision;
  4. Control of monitoring and measuring devices;
  5. Measurement, analysis and improvement.

Rules for achieving IATF recognition.
http://www.iatfglobaloversight.org/docs/Rules%203rd%20Edition%20SI%20June%202009.pdf
Buy Standard. We think you’ll agree it’s better than buying 75 different customer audit teams lunch.
Had you noticed the change? Or have you been so busy making and shipping product that you missed this development? Or are you one of the lucky ones that still gets customer audits too?
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