IFI Launches Online Fastener Technical Data Service

Jason Sandefur

The Industrial Fasteners Institute launched its Technology Connection online technical data service, which went live on May 1.
Using pull-down menus to describe fasteners, subscribers can see all of the technical information related to that product instantly on a single screen. The information can be viewed, printed, or saved as a PDF file. This cuts the time to find technical information by at least 80% and puts it in a format you can keep for yourself or share with your customers, IFI technical engineering director Joe Greenslade told FIN.
The service has about 120 users so far, including two non-IFI member companies.
Technology Connection provides material, dimensional or performance standards and specifications for inch and metric standard nuts, bolts, screws, washers and socket products. Standards include IFI, ASTM, ASME, ISO and DIN.
The online service offers single page summaries, standards tables, parts diagrams and all relevant data. Torque values are added and there are conversion and calculation tools.
The web service has been developed for distributors, importers, end-users and fastener manufacturing sales and operations personnel.
The product standards module provides all specifications integrated into a single page: Torque calculator, inch/metric conversion, fraction inch/decimal/millimeter conversion, international raw materials cross references, technical bulletins, mechanical drawing, head & strength marks, dimensional data, thread data, grade, hardness, tensile strength, proof load, yield strength and single shear.
Subscribers receive access to a Q&A Bulletin Board.
Future phases will add data, lookup tables for such information as thread data, grade and property class, tapping screw mechanical and performance data, drill and tap selection.
Greenslade is conducting online conference demonstrations to showcase the service. The IFI also offers free 10-day trials to let potential subscribers test the service.
There”s no reason that someone with any computer knowledge should have trouble using the service, Greenslade emphasized.
“I worked hard with the designers to make sure it was user-friendly. The online service is much more user-friendly than a book could ever be.”
The two-year project, which took about 400 working days to design, is an accomplishment Greenslade expressed pride in.
“I”ve worked on a lot of neat projects over the years, and this is right at the top in terms of its contribution to the industry.”
For a more comprehensive source of technical information, the IFI”s books will continue to be around for a while. Greenslade said he didn”t envision the new service as replacing the IFI”s standards manuals.
“We”ll probably continue to publish the books for years to come.”
For one thing, the online service does not contain all the information that can be found in the IFI”s printed manuals. The IFI incorporated about 90% of the tabled data from its standards books into the program, plus documents on ISO and DIN standards.
The IFI is offering a new pricing scheme to make the online information available for user customers with password protection, Greenslade told FIN.
“We”re absolutely dedicated to this being the best resource of its kind in the fastener industry.” E-mail: ifi-orders@indfast.org Web: indfast.org \ �2008 FastenerNews.com