Heat Staking

Heatstaking is a method of joining two or more parts, where at least one is made out of plastic. The bond is made by partially de-forming the plastic part to fix the other. Heatstaking is the most efficient way to  bond metal to plastic, and is commonly used in high volume/low cost applications in the automotive, telecom and appliance industries.

The process works by heating the plastic to a temperature above the glass transition temperature via the use of super-heated air or a thermode, and then applying pressure in order to deform it and create the stake. The plastic is then cooled down again – under constant pressure – below the glass transition temperature, ensuring good fixation of the parts. This cooling can be done with compressed air if using a thermode, or with a cold, preformed tool if super-heated air is used.

For more information, read our Fundamentals of Heatstaking paper