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  • 1.  Nuts Nuts Nuts

    Posted 02-19-2025 05:59 AM

    What are your preferences between super nuts & hydraulic nuts.

    I have been trying to convince people that hydraulic nuts only because the force distribution is even and is less likely to be experience operator inexperience.



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    Lesiba Moja
    Reliability Coordinator
    First Quantum Minerals
    South Africa
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  • 2.  RE: Nuts Nuts Nuts

    Posted 02-20-2025 09:26 AM

    Hi Lesiba, 

    This has been a passion of mine since the 1990's when I learned about the Physics behind Nord-Lock's Fasteners.

    • Nord-Lock washers secure bolts with tension instead of friction.
    • The system cannot loosen unintentionally as it creates a wedge-effect underneath the bolt head. 
    • Check Out the "Junker Vibration Test" U-Tube Video Nordlock uses to demonstrate and compare the results.

    Specifically, regarding your question regarding preferences between Super Nuts and Hydraulic Nuts, the typical explanation (Source: GOOGLE AI) is: 

    • A "super nut" is a type of multi-jackbolt tensioner that uses a mechanism of smaller jackbolts to create a high clamping force on a large bolted joint with relatively low torque input, while a "hydraulic nut" utilizes internal hydraulic pressure to achieve extremely high tension on a bolt, often used for large diameter applications where high clamping force is needed without excessive manual torque; essentially, a super nut relies on mechanical tensioning with multiple small jackbolts, while a hydraulic nut uses hydraulic pressure to tighten the bolt. 
    • Nord-Lock also has a Solution - Super Bolt - which I believe accomplishes what you're looking for using the Nord-Lock Technology.

    I've applied Nord-Lock as a Maintenance Supervisor, Maintenance Manager, Engineer, and recently incorporated Nord-Lock products into the Maintenance Strategy our Jacobs RAM Team prepared for the California High Speed Rail (CHSR) CP 2-3 Corridor - with a Prefix to all the Nord-Lock Maintenance Tasks being "NL-"! 

    Hey, I could be a Nord-Lock Sales Person, yet I just like to promote a terrific Product, built on physics, & TECHNICAL accuracy and precision! I remember when Grainger started to carry Nord-Lock (1990's I believe - prior to that you had to get these Fasteners from Nord-Lock directly). Wow, Nord-Lock just celebrated their 40th Anniversary in 2022. 

    I hope this is valuable for your applications, Lesiba.

    Cheers!

    Reliably, 

    Marie

    Marie Getsug, PMP, CAMA2, CMRP/CMRT, CRL Black Belt, CPIP | Jacobs | Strategic Consulting - Asset Management and Senior Technical SME | marie.getsug@jacobs.com

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    Marie Getsug
    Strategic Consulting - Asset Management - Senior Technical SME
    Jacobs Engineering
    Clarksville MD
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  • 3.  RE: Nuts Nuts Nuts

    Posted 02-21-2025 02:12 PM

    There are a lot of products out there to improve bolt preload and joint reliability.  Really can depend on the application too.  Agree with Marie that the Nordlock is an excellent and cheap option if loosening is your issue.  I will use Nordlock washers on applications where high vibration or loosening occurs. I've never had one get loose yet.  Great design and innovative product.

    Superbolts also good to get your preload down on installation to a manageable amplitude for installers on large bolting applications where trying to achieve large bolt preload is difficult.  

    Achieving bolt the correct bolt preload is one big challenge and maybe keeping that bolt preload is another challenge.  Nordlock will not enable you to achieve target bolt preload (neither necessarily superbolt either); however to maintain preload the Nordlock is excellent.

    Achieving target bolt preload is another challenge.  I've found bolt elongation using ultrasonic is the best method if low error and high precision is needed.  I've also found that only a small number of designs may require that as most joints are over designed and preload error is within the application tolerance for decent reliability.

    Always an interesting subject.



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    Randy Riddell, CMRP, PSAP, CLS
    Reliability Manager
    Essity
    Cherokee AL
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