Bonding and Assembly

Metalworking and metal fabrication includes everything from large items like machinery construction and architectural panels down to small items like sporting equipment and metal furniture. While bare metal is generally easy to bond, it’s important to remember that any paint, dirt or oily coating will make bonding more difficult, and of course the second substrate may also be challenging to bond. 3M has adhesives and tapes to address many different metalworking needs. Some of the main families include:
 

• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives that provide over 1000 psi of overlap shear strength
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes that offer instant strength plus viscoelasticity to allow thermal expansion and contraction
• 3M™ Spray Adhesives that can be sprayed, brushed or rolled onto large areas

Panel-to-Frame applications involve bonding load-bearing panels to rigid frames in locations such as elevator walls, architectural panels and glazing, and large metal enclosures such as HVAC or electrical equipment.  Some applications also involve Stiffener-to-Panel bonding in order to reinforce the panel.

Small Joint Assembly applications are often irregularly shaped joints with only a few inches that overlap. These can be insertion or overlap joints or some combination and include such functions as mortise and tenon furniture joints, thread locking and air or liquid ducting and piping.

Large Surface Lamination involves two surfaces of similar size where the majority of the matching surface is covered with an adhesive. Applications include laminations for doors, bonding foam and fabrics for seating and general fabrication of insulated, composite or sandwich panels.

Mounting and Trim Attachment applications involve applying smaller objects to larger surface, including frames, small signs, mirrors and white boards.

Our Bonding Solutions for Metalworking Applications experience lets you further explore how adhesives and tapes can help you solve metalworking and metal fabrication challenges. You can investigate business impacts such as productivity, process and quality or see more about specific applications such as panels, components, sealing and more. Once you learn more about the possibilities you can also search for 3M products or ask a question of one of our adhesives experts.

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As people demand more comfort and mileage from their cars the need for tape and adhesive solutions increases. 3M solutions can help you bond lighter substrates to achieve weight reduction, and the aesthetics of sleek and stylish vehicles mainly require that bonds remain invisible. While they’re being driven automotive interiors are at reasonable temperatures but need to endure constant vibration, then while parked these same vehicles can go through extreme cycles of heat and cold. We have solutions designed for a range of functions and conditions, including:

• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives that provide over 1000 psi of overlap shear strength
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes that offer instant strength plus viscoelasticity to allow thermal expansion and contraction
• 3M™ Spray Adhesives that can be sprayed, brushed or rolled onto large areas
• 3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners for access panels or replaceable sections

Panel-to-Frame attachment is used to bond and seal windshields and other fixed windows as well as for attaching panels to the frames of doors.

Large Surface Lamination may be used to bond floor carpeting or the fabric of a headliner, as well as all the different layers of cushioning and fabric that go into the seats and interior door panels.

Mounting and Trim Attachment applications occur in many places that aren’t suitable for mechanical fasteners, including button and knob attachment, trim pieces and make and model decals.

Appliances offer many opportunities for adhesives and tapes to replace mechanical fasteners, particularly for exterior panel and control panel bonding, wire bundling and gasketing or sealing.
 

• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives can replace welding while threadlockers can make sure the bolts you do use stay in place.
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes can be used for bonding and at the same time create a seal around glass window panels.
• 3M™ Aluminum Foil Tapes can be used to deflect heat from sensitive locations while (splitting this into two bullets)
• Scotch® Strapping Tapes can be used to secure racks, cords and wire bundles during production and shipping.

Panel-to-Frame applications include bonding top and side panels to the appliance frame.

Large Surface Lamination may be used to fabricate lightweight multi-material panels or panels with different layers such as insulation.

Gasketing and Sealing may be necessary to keep water or coolants inside the appliance where they belong.

Buses and passenger rail cars offer many opportunities for adhesive and tape solutions, from bonding panels to the frame to constructing seats to attaching signage. 3M bonding and assembly solutions can help with worker and passenger safety, lightweighting, durability and providing passengers with a more comfortable experience – all while helping to make your manufacturing, maintenance and refurbishment processes faster and cleaner. Product families that can help meet these needs include:
 

• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives that provide over 1000 psi of overlap shear strength
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes that offer instant strength plus viscoelasticity to allow thermal expansion and contraction
• 3M™ Spray Adhesives that can be sprayed, brushed or rolled onto large areas
• 3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners for access panels or replaceable sections

Panel-to-Frame applications involve bonding walls and ceiling or roof panels to rigid frame structures. Some situations may also require Stiffener-to-Panel bonding, where a stiffener is used to reinforce a panel.

Large Surface Lamination applications include flooring, seat construction and layered, insulated or composite interior panels.

Sealing applications can involve using tapes and adhesives that also create a seal or applying sealants to exterior surfaces and joints to prevent water intrusion.

Mounting and Trim Attachment applications involve applying smaller objects to larger surfaces, including for things such as fold-down trays, overhead luggage compartments and signs.

Whether you need spaces for buttons or a viewing screen or a shape cut precisely to fit a piece of trim, using our products straight from the factory isn’t always an option. Strips of tape aren’t suitable for every application and liquid adhesives may not be precise enough. The solution is to work with a converter to get just the right adhesive in the right shape. Your converter can work with both your expert team and ours to help you determine the best adhesives for joining your substrates, then convert our rolls or sheets of tape to the right shape and size for your production line, part after part after part.

Signs are everywhere from large highway signs to small nameplates and serving purposes from guidance to advertising. All these signs need to be attached, and 3M can help you do it without mechanical fasteners. In addition to bonding substrates such as glass and certain plastics where mechanical fasteners are difficult to use, adhesives and tapes provide a hidden bond for better aesthetics and can help resist bimetallic corrosion by keeping substrates separate. Similar applications include bonding and sealing glass in deli and display cases and vending machine windows. Depending on the strength, durability and other properties you need for a specific situation, different 3M product families provide excellent bonding solutions:
 

• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives that provide over 1000 psi of overlap shear strength
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes that offer instant strength plus viscoelasticity to allow thermal expansion and contraction
• 3M™ Dual Lock™ Reclosable Fasteners provide good holding strength while also being separable for signs that are removed and replaced periodically

Panel-to-Frame applications involve bonding load-bearing panels to rigid frame structures. Some situations may also require Stiffener-to-Panel bonding, where a stiffener is used to reinforce a panel.

Mounting and Trim Attachment applications involve applying smaller objects to larger surfaces, including items such as mirrors, white boards and small directional signs.

Sealing may be an added benefit for applications such as refrigerated cases, where the tape or adhesive bond can also seal out warm air.

Electronics always have their eye on the future, with devices optimized for IoT, 5G and beyond. 3M has a full range of products to help you navigate that future whether you’re developing a smartphone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, wearable or smart home device. Spend less time worrying about material capabilities and more time focusing on what your customers desire most — a reliable device with unhindered functionality.
 

• 3M™ Thin Bonding Tapes give you ultra-thin bonding to a variety of substrates starting at 0.01mm thickness
• 3M™ VHB™ Tapes and Foam Tapes offer impact and vibration resistance, as well as water resistance for sealing
• 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives offer over 1000 psi of overlap shear strength

Panel-to-Frame applications include bonding outer walls to a frame structure to protect and seal internal components

Small Joint Assembly methods are used to bond batteries and other components so they stay securely attached through the wear and tear of daily use.

Sealing applications involve using tapes and adhesives that also create a seal to prevent water intrusion.

Mounting and Trim Attachment applications involve applying smaller objects to larger surfaces, including decals and buttons.

Find more details at our Electronics Bonding page or in the resources below.