CA LC U L AT I O N S · D ES I G N · A PPL I CAT I O N S B . 3 .

snap fit joints in plastic parts

Design calculations for
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Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Requirements for snap-fit joints 3

3. Basic typesof snap-fit joint 4

3.1 Barbed leg snap-fit 4

3.2 Barbed leg snap-fit supported

on both sides 4
3.3 Cylindrical snap-fit 4
3.4 Ball and socket snap-fit 5

4. Critical dimensions for snap-fit joint

a 6
4.1 Maximum permissible undercut depth Hmax.
and maximum permissible
elongation s,^ 6
4.2 Elastic modulus E 10
4.3 Coefficient of friction M 10
4.4 Assembly angle a\ and retaining angle 2 11

5. Design calculations for snap-fit joints 12

5.1 Barbed leg snap-fit 12

5.2 Cylindrical snap-fit 13
5.3 Ball and socket snap-fit 14

6. Calculation examples 16
6.1 Barbed leg snap-fit 16
6.2 Cylindrical snap-fit 16

6.3 Ball and socket snap-fit 18

6.4 Barbed leg snap-fit supported
on both sides 18

7. Demoulding ofsnap-fit joints 20

8. Applications 21
8.1 Barbed leg snap-fit 21
8.2 Cylindrical snap-fit 23
8.3 Ball and socket snap-fit 24

9. Explanation of symbols 24

10. Literature 25
1. Introduction 2. Requirements
for snap-fit joints
Snap-fits are formfitting joints which permit great design Snap-fits are used to parts together in a certain
fix two

flexibility. All these joints basically involve a projecting
lip, thicker section, lugs or barbed legs moulded on one
part which engage in a corresponding hole, recess or
undercut in the other. During assembly, the parts are
elastically deformed. Joints may be non-detachable or
detachable, depending on design (figs. 4 and 5). Non-
detachable joints can withstand permanent loading even
at high temperatures. With detachable joints, it is neces
sary to test in each individual case the permanent load
deformation which can be permitted in the joint. In the
unloaded state, snap-fit joints are under little or no stress
and are therefore not usually leaktight. By incorporating
sealing elements, e.g. O-rings, or by using an adhesive,
leaktight joints can also be obtained.
position. In some cases,important to exclude play
it is
between the assembled parts (e. g. rattle-free joints
for automotive applications). The axial forces to be
transmitted are relatively small. In the majority of appli
cations, the joints are not subject to permanent loads
(e. g. from internal pressure).
Special fasteners such as rivets and clips also work on the
snap-fit principle. They should be easy to insert, suitable
for blind fastening, require low assembly force and be
able to bridge the tolerances of the mounting hole.

Snap-fits are one of the cheapest methods of joining

plastic parts because they are easy to assemble and no
additional fastening elements are required.

Hostaform
Acetal copolymer (POM)

Hostacom
Reinforced polypropylene (PP)

Celanex
Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)

@Vandar
Impact-modified
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT-HI)

lmpet
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

=
registered trademark
 The undercut depth H is the difference between the
3. Basic types of snap-fit joint outside edge of the barb and the inside edge of the hole
(% 1):
The parts with an undercut can be cylindrical, spherical
or barbed. There are three corresponding types of snap- undercut depth H =
LI L2 (1)
fit joint:
The leg is deflected by this amount during assembly.
1 .
Barbed leg snap-fit
2. Cylindrical snap-fit In designing a barbed leg, care should be taken to pre
3. Ball and socket snap-fit vent overstressing at the vulnerable point of support
because of the notch effect. The radius r (fig. 1) should
therefore be as large as possible.
3.1 Barbed leg snap-fit

Hg.l 3.2 Barbed leg snap-fit supported on both sides

Fig. 3

1, Pj
i
-\ T S (/}

_vu HJ1 t
T t
-1 >~
1
/R

Barbed spring elements supported on one or

legs are This joint employs a barbed spring element supported
both sides and usually pressed through holes in the on both sides. The undercut depth H is the difference
mating part (fig. 1). The hole can be rectangular, circular between the outside edge of the barb and the width of
or a slot. The cross-section of the barbed leg is usually the receiving hole (fig. 3). Hence as in formula (1) we
rectangular, but shapes based on round cross-sections are obtain:
also used. Here, the originally cylindrical snap-fit is
divided by one or several slots to reduce dimensional undercut depth H Lt L2 (la)
rigidity and hence assembly force (fig. 2).
Thissnap-joint may be detachable or non-detachable
Fig.2 depending on the design of the retaining angle.

3.3 Cylindrical snap-fit

Cylindrical snap-fits consist of cylindrical parts with a

moulded lip or thick section which engage in a corre
sponding groove, or sometimes just a simple hole in the
mating part.
 Fig. 4: Non-detachable joint compression ( ) of the shaft
^1DG
^ _==*. 100% (4)
UG

elongation (+) of the hub

AV*
+ ~^-WO% (5)
,
e2 =

i-TC

As it is not known how the undercut

depth H is appor
tioned between the mating parts, it is assumed for sim
plicity that only one part undergoes a deformation e
corresponding to the whole undercut depth H.

s
Dr,
H
-100% or e=^^-100%
DK

3.4 Ball and socket snap-fit

Fig. 5: Detachable joint
Fig. 6

The difference between the largest diameter of the

shaft DG and the smallest diameter of the hub DK is the
undercut depth H. Ball and socket snap-fits (fig. 6) are mainly used as motion
transmitting joints. A ball or ball section engages in a

undercut depth H =
DG DK (2) corresponding socket; the undercut depth H is the differ
ence between the ball diameter DG and the socket open
DG largest diameter of the shaft [mm] ing diameter DK.
DK smallest diameter of the hub [mm]
undercut depth H =
DG DK (7)
The parts are deformed by the amount of this undercut
DG ball diameter [mm]
depth during assembly. The diameter of the shaft is
DK socket opening diameter [mm]
reduced by ADC, and the diameter of the hub increased
by +ZlDK.
Because the shaft is solid and therefore very rigid, the
hole undercut depth H must be overcome by expanding
So the undercut depth can also be described as
the hub. As a result of this diameter change, the hub is
deformed as follows:
H =
ADC + JDK (3)

result of these diameter DG-DK H

As changes, the shaft and hub , -

a elongation e =
^ 100% = 100% (8)
deformed
jL>K DK
are as follows:
4. Critical dimensions the deformation is lower. So barbed legs are stressed
much less than cylindrical snap-fits. As a result of this,
for a snap-fit joint higher elongation is permissible and in many cases is
necessary for design reasons.

Irrespective of the type of

snap-fit there is a linear relation
between the undercut depth H and elongation e. The
maximum permissible undercut depth Hmax. is limited by
the specified maximum permissible elongation e^^
For non-rectangular barbed leg cross-sections, the follow
ing relationships apply between undercut depth H and
deformation e in the outer fibre region (outer fibre elon
.
gation):

The load-carrying capacity of snap-fits depends on the

elastic modulus E and coefficient of friction //. It can be semicircular I2 en
matched to the requirements of the joint by adjusting Hmax.= 0.578 (10)
cross-section r 100
undercut depth H and assembly angle i or retaining
angle K2 (see section 4.4).
third of a circle I2 en
Hmax. = 0.580 (H)
cross-section r 100

4.1 Maximum permissible undercut depth Hm and

maximum permissible elongation &max. quarter of a circle
cross-section
Hmax.= 0.555-^-^- (12)
In barbed legs (fig. 7), the following relation applies
between undercut depth H (= deflection) as a result of
deflection force FB and elongation or compression in the These relationships also apply approximately to leg
outer fibre region of the barbed leg cross-section cross-sections in the form of sectors of an annulus.
(rectangular section):
A comparison between formula 9 and formulae 10 to

-|- - ^
12 shows that the maximum permissible undercut
undercut depth Hmax. = -

(9)
depth Hmax. for barbed legs with cross-sections in the
form of segments of a circle is 15% lower than that of
barbed leg length [mm] a rectangular barbed leg cross-section (assumption:

barbed leg height [mm] h -I).

x. permissible elongation [/o]
The maximum permissible undercut depth Hmax. for
barbed legs of different length and height with a
Fig. 7
rectangular cross-section can be read off figs. 10 to 13.

Kg- 9

\ a
'fi
s \

'T n t
Fig. 8: Elongation in cross-section A- A (fig. 7)

1
The maximum permissible undercut depth Hmax. for
barbed leg snap-fits supported on both sides can be
calculated with the aid of fig. 14, irrespective of the
The maximum deformation (fig. 8) only applies in the material. Fig. 14 applies for emax 6% (see calculation
=

critical region A -

A, fig. 7, while in other cross-sections example 6.4).

Fig. 10: Maximum permissible undercut depth Hn Fig. 12: Maximum permissible undercut de
for Hostaform and Hostalen PP for Hostacom M 4 N01 and G 3 N01

a
s 1=50 mm
3

o^ ~13^ max. = 2%
s_
H
i

<^i LU u=L ^|
\ |5
~

1 E f
4^ X i"
mm
n *iln*L max. 8%
: \ Vl 30 mrr [

Hmax.
= =

M
30
y& ^ N
\
oj s,
V >

x= 20
s
mn X
^ depth
S Is
20 KJ
s
^s
s
V
mm
N
t s
-%

10
\
s
A
\.
= 20 mm

\
undercut fö
Xj
\.
= 10 rn
SJ
m\
= 15 mm\

\
\
Sk
s

permis ble
8 Sl=15 mmN. s
pbo x s
1

s \
\ V N

6
s S p^ v S.
s
sl = 10 mm \ sv \ \
X \ N X 1= 5 mm
s

Maximu
4 v

op
4*

3
s\ \ Ui
5 V
X
\
2
s
Si = 5 mi n \\ pfo
\
\ \
S \

I o l^
0 5 0.8 1.0 2345 6mm8 0.5 0.8 1.0 345 6mm 8

Height of barbed leg h Height of barbed leg h

Fig. 11: Maximum permissible undercut depth Hn Fig. 13: Maximum permissible undercut depth Hmax.
for Hostaform C 9021 CV 1/30 for Hostacom G 2 N01 and M 2 N01

P
mm
L max. = 6%

t 10
y ^\
""

X
rr
N \
s
x\r
s
30r on

S N \
8 s JV s. S

6
X X ^V 1 = 20 mm \
5 X Sj=15mmS
s
\
4
X \ \
Si = 10 mm
X
3

N^ \ s
V
I 2

X X
S
I 5 mr n

X
0.1 1 X s
0.5 0.8 1.0 345 6mm8 1.5 0.8 1.0 345 6mm8

Height of barbed leg h Height of barbed leg h

The undercut depth H is calculated as follows:
maximum permissible undercut depth (14)
en

, r (-!)' (>+4) J~lmax.

100
DC

12 m ^ () Dt outside diameter of the shaft [mm] in cylindrical

(-1) snap-fits or ball diameter [mm] in ball and socket
b barb width [mm]
snap-fits
1 length of hole [mm]
The maximum permissible elongation of materials with
s thickness of leg [mm]
Smax. maximum permissible elongation (table 1) [%]
adefinite yield point (e. g. Hostaform) should be about
a third of the elongation at yield stress es (fig. 15a).

For materials without a definite yield point (e. g. glass

Fig. 14: Barbed leg snap-fit supported on both fibre reinforced Hostacom, fig. 15b), the maximum per
TT
missible elongation (see table 1) should be about a third
sides; relative undercut depth j as a function of barb
of the elongation at break SR.
width and spring leg thickness for emax. = 6%

Fig. 15a: For materials with a definite yield point os

(e. g. Hostaform)
1.0
0.8

0.6

0.4
relative spring leg thickness = 0.01
y

0.2

es
3

El- 0.1

0.08

0.06 Fig. 15b: For materials without a definite yield

point os (e. g. Hostacom)
0.04

|
TB 0.02
eü

0.01

0.008

0.006

IE. SR
0.004 3

0.002 Fig. 16

F
^o
ES '
0.001 /

0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

Relative barb width -r

With cylindrical snap-fits and ball and socket snap-fits,

the maximum permissible undercut depth can be
calculated from the maximum permissible elongation
emax. (%) using the formula: