What are fixtures?
Why Are Click Bond Fasteners
Supplied with Fixtures?
Click Bond fasteners use fixtures to ensure precise alignment, uniform pressure, and reliable adhesive-bond quality during installation
What Is a Fixture and Why Is It Important?
A fixture is a temporary clamp that holds the fastener in place while the adhesive cures. Click Bond fixtures are specifically built for each fastener design to maintain critical positioning and apply the correct pressure needed to achieve a high-performance bond.
Fixtures ensure that the adhesive bond line is uniform, the fastener remains perfectly aligned, and no shifting or lifting occurs during the curing cycle. This is especially critical in aerospace, defense, and electric-vehicle applications in which performance and reliability are non-negotiable.
The Key Roles Fixtures Play During Installation
1. Ensuring Correct Positioning
Fixtures guide the placement of the fastener and prevent it from moving or tilting during the cure process. This ensures that every fastener is installed exactly where it's needed, which is especially important for multifastener assemblies or mission-critical components.
2. Controlling Bond-Line Thickness
Maintaining a consistent adhesive bond-line thickness is essential for uniform load distribution and long-term joint strength. Fixtures apply positive pressure across the base of the fastener to create this consistent bond line while adhesive cures.
3. Preventing Adhesive Starvation or Squeeze-Out
Too much pressure can cause adhesive to be pushed out, weakening the bond. Too little pressure can leave gaps or voids. Fixtures ensure the ideal balance by applying calibrated, repeatable force during the cure period.
4. Simplifying Installation in Difficult Environments
Whether bonding inside an aircraft fuselage, along a ship’s bulkhead, or under a vehicle chassis, fixtures allow installers to set and forget, freeing their hands and ensuring the fastener stays put, even in vertical or overhead orientations. This results in labor and time savings when installing bonded fasteners.
5. Enabling Quality Control
Fixtures help standardize installations across teams and facilities. This consistency improves quality assurance, traceability, and compliance with manufacturing-process specifications and industry certifications.
Types of Fixtures We Provide
Click Bond offers a variety of fixture types tailored to different use cases:
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Self-fixturing fasteners: Integrated fixture components are molded into the fastener itself for quick, seamless application.
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Snap-off fixtures: Externally placed, disposable fixtures that are removed after the adhesive has cured, leaving no trace behind.
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Custom-engineered fixtures: These are provided for specialized geometries, unique surfaces, or automation integration.
What Happens If You Skip the Fixture?
Skipping the fixture — or using makeshift methods — can result in:
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An inconsistent bond-line thickness
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Misalignment or rotation during the cure period
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Poor adhesive performance or delamination
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Increased rework and inspection costs
How Do Fixtures Improve Installation Efficiency?
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Reduce operator error
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Eliminate need for clamping or bracing
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Accelerate production cycles
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Enable installation in complex orientations
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Support lean manufacturing and automation goals
In Summary: Why Fixtures Matter
Click Bond supplies fixtures with its fasteners because achieving aerospace-grade bonding performance requires more than just strong adhesive — it requires precise control over how the fastener is positioned and the adhesive cured. Fixtures provide that control, making the process repeatable, reliable, and fast.
By using adhesive-bonded fasteners with engineered installation fixtures, installers can ensure long-term performance, avoid costly mistakes, and meet the highest standards in structural bonding.