Self Drilling Screws for use with Lightweight Deck Panels for Walkways and Ramps
Original Equipment Manufactures -- OEM s -- will find many benefits to the ThruFlow™ composite deck panels. The panels are offered in 3, 4, and 5 foot widths, and they cover 1 lineal foot, a 10 foot ramp or walkway requires exactly 10 panels. Speed of assembly is an important factor for manufacturers as labor is one of the significant costs. The fastener mounting holes are already molded into the ThruFlow™ panels.
If the manufacturer is using aluminum extrusions, you may have a C channel along each edge to capture the panel, or you may mount on top of an angle or upside down U channel. And, similarly there will 1 or more center stringers or ribs. Most OEMs will use some kind of spacer between the panels, this could be as simple as a wood T that can drop between. Although the ThruFlow™ panels do have interlocking tabbed spacers molded in for alignment, the tabs must not be butted together. All composite materials ( as well as other materials) do expand and contract with temperature. ThruFlow™ does not swell with moisture however as wood does for example. In any case, when measuring from the edge of the last panel to the same edge of the next panel you measure 12 inches, then you have the correct spacing. See the ThruFlow™ specifications for additional information on this.
Of course with wood stringers one would simply use wood thread screws. Although one could drill and tap holes in aluminum, another possibly more efficient approach is to use self drilling and tapping screws. The image below, note that the drill tip of the screw must completely drill through the metal before the threads begin to cut through the material. A power driver can make application of your mounting fasteners almost as simple as driving screws into wood stringers.
Some thought should be considered to the environment your product will find itself in, for example wet or salt water environments may require SS or suitable coatings. Speaking with the fastener manufacturers with respect to the metal you thread into and the nature of your environmental conditions will help choose the most suitable fastener.
A web search for self drilling, self tapping phrases or terms should yield a number of possible sources, or the local industrial suppliers will have or can source these products. Of course you are always welcome to contact us by phone or the contact form for additional specific assistance. We are very attuned to the needs of the OEM and happy to make a quotation on your regular manufacturing needs. Also we are happy to pitch in to help you get started using our product with the information that you need.
No troubled waters here !
If you aren't already familiar with ThruFlow™ you may wonder why does the surface have holes ? There are many advantageous to holes:
Let the light shine through on this Environmentally Compatible Floating Dock !
ThruFlow™ decking is the modern long lasting green material for docks. All dock decking materials are not equal. ThruFlow decking has undergone many thousands of dollars of testing to ensure that it will have a long life in the Florida Sun, which destroys most materials in under 5 years, even pressure treated wood. So, you say, every manufacturer says their product is the best ! Sure, but how many go to an independent outside testing laboratory to
ThruFlow TM -- Marinas, Commercial Establishments and Homeowners often require ramps to transition from the land to floating docks to accommodate the tide. Depending on the steepness of the ramp there is a legitimate concern of slip and fall accidents. The defense against slipping is good surface friction. There are many environmental factors that influence a choice of the material for the deck of your ramp. We believe that ThruFlow™ is an excellent choice for ramp applications. Although inclines and ramps are the most challenging, once you ex
perience the many benefits of the material you may want to use it for your fixed and floating dock and pier surface as well. Other articles on this site will focus in on other specific benefits of this highly engineered product.
