Total Solutions
for Flocking Technology from Automotive Industries to Flocking
Machinery Systems|
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Patented Flocked Fasteners for Squeak and Rattle Prevention
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Flocked Fasteners
Eteron Inc. supplies flocked metal fastners
used in car interior applications for squeak and rattle (S/R) prevention.
Flocked clips have been proven to prevent vibration noise in instrument panels in
testing equivalent to over 100,000 miles. Successful as a cost-effective replacement for manually
applied felt tape, flocked clips are coated automatically in high volumes. The nylon fibers reduce
engineering tolerances for the contact surfaces between the clips and panels, eliminating the squeaks.
The patented process applies the fibers directly to the metal, rendering the finish highly resistant
to wear
and consistent in quality. Flocked fasteners are standard for various major models including Ford F-Series Truck, Expedition,
and Navigator.
I. Experimental Verification of Flocked Clips for S/R Prevention
Extensive experiments have been conducted and the results have shown the advantages of flocked
clips over felt tape in preventing squeaks and rattles in the
instrument panel. Numerous tests were conducted on both clips with felt tape and flocked clips over 60,000 miles.
These clips are used to attach EN-53
defroster grill to the I/P substrate. Total 8 clips( 4 clips with felt tape and 4 flcoked clips)
were used for each test.
II. Test Results
Dynamic and visual performance evaluations were made at zero, five thousand, thirty thousand, and sixty thousand miles.
The results as shown in the following table were observed based on a sample size of one I/P run through durability testing.
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0 Miles |
5,000 Miles |
30,000 Miles |
60,000 Miles |
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Felt tape |
Dynamic |
No S/R Concerns |
No S/R Concerns |
Ticking Noise |
Ticking Noise |
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Visual |
New |
Minimal wear on felt tape |
Felt tape worn through |
Felt tape worn through |
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Flocked clips |
Dynamic |
No S/R Concerns |
No S/R Concerns |
No S/R Concerns |
No S/R Concerns |
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Visual |
New |
Minimal wear on flocking |
Minimal wear on flocking |
Slight wear of flocking (no wear through) |
III. Cost Analysis
Flocked clips proved to be one tenth the cost of manually applying felt tape. This analysis took into consideration
even an operator cost using a Mexican labor rate. For example,
over 400 places in the instrument panel of Lexus were dressed with felt tape.
It is very clear that our unique and cost effecftive flocked fasteners will significanly reduce cost
while providing superior squeak and rattle prevention and wear resistance over felt tape.
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Copyright © 2002, by Eteron Inc.,
Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA.
All rights
reserved. |
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