select
navigate
switch tabs
Esc close

Optimal shore hardness for snap-fits in electrical housing

0
M
1

Hello, I’m designing snap-fit features for a small electronics housing made from PA12 (Nylon) and need to ensure the material provides the right balance of flexibility and durability. The snap-fit will be used for securing and accessing internal components, so it needs to handle multiple assemblies and disassemblies without wearing out or breaking. Does anyone have experience with PA12 in such applications, or can recommend a Shore hardness range that would work best for this type of snap-fit design?

Solved by Tim Meyer

In my experience, the Shore hardness you choose really depends on how often the snap-fit will be engaged. For more rigid snap fits, I usually go for materials with a Shore D hardness above 80, like polycarbonate. For parts that need more flexibility, like in some consumer electronics, softer materials around Shore D60-D70, such as polypropylene, are a good fit. Just make sure the material can withstand the repeated stress without deforming.

    • M

      Hello, I’m designing snap-fit features for a small electronics housing made from PA12 (Nylon) and need to ensure the material provides the right balance of flexibility and durability. The snap-fit will be used for securing and accessing internal components, so it needs to handle multiple assemblies and disassemblies without wearing out or breaking. Does anyone have experience with PA12 in such applications, or can recommend a Shore hardness range that would work best for this type of snap-fit design?

      0
    • T

      In my experience, the Shore hardness you choose really depends on how often the snap-fit will be engaged. For more rigid snap fits, I usually go for materials with a Shore D hardness above 80, like polycarbonate. For parts that need more flexibility, like in some consumer electronics, softer materials around Shore D60-D70, such as polypropylene, are a good fit. Just make sure the material can withstand the repeated stress without deforming.

      • This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by
        T
        Tim Meyer
        .
      0
      Reply
Optimal shore hardness for snap-fits in electrical housing
Your information:




Suggested Topics

Topic
Replies
Views
Activity
Slim linear guide for precise lab automation stage
I’m designing a compact linear stage for a lab automation setup, used to move a microplate (about 300 grams) precisely along a 150 mm travel. The system needs to achieve repeatability under ±0.05 mm... read more
J
i
1
113
Sep 02
Advice on plastic insert gripping an inner rotating tube
Hello, I'm designing a plastic coupling sleeve to mount an aluminum shaft (20 mm OD) from the inside. The sleeve needs to grip the shaft firmly enough to transmit rotational torque from a small... read more
P
J
4
134
Aug 21
O-ring seal design for removable marine sensor housing
Hi! My project is a small-scale marine sensor housing; it needs to stay functional when briefly submerged (around 0.5 m depth) or exposed to heavy splashes on a boat deck. I’m using a machined... read more
H
H
D
9
533
Aug 22
Compact two-axis rotation without U-joints?
Hi all! I’m building a compact gimbal for a sensor head that needs to rotate around two perpendicular axes (pan and tilt). I’m trying to stay away from standard U-joints — they take up... read more
D
b
4
1.4k
Aug 14
SLA wall thickness issue for microfluidic channels
Hi, I created a 3D design for a small microfluidic part using SLA (Clear Resin) with internal channels ~0.4 mm wide and wall thickness around 0.5 mm. The function relies on optical inspection through... read more
B
c
1
210
Jul 29