A SYSTEMATIC-APPROACH TO INTEGRAL SNAP-FIT ATTACHMENT DESIGN

Traditional integral snap-fit attachment design focuses almost exclusi vely oil the individual locking features, such as cantilever hooks, ba yonet-fingers, compressive hooks and others. The positioning a,ld oi o rientation of other significant features on parts, such as those that facilitate or enhance engagement and eliminate unwanted degrees of fre edom left by locking features, i.e. locating features and enhancements , are not considered. This paper builds oil relatively new methodologi es and guidelines for arranging ail attachment features on plastic par ts comprising snap-fit assembly. Classification of features into categ ories of locking features, locating features and enhancements of these is used as the basis for discussion. A systematic approach to attachm ent design is presented.