Joining laser cut pieces without the use of fasteners can be tricky and time-consuming, but if you follow these steps, you’ll have it mastered in no time. 

Also, the downside of joining laser cut parts using nuts and bolts (fasteners) requires multiple holes and time-consuming tightening, but there are ways to join them without the use of fasteners. The key here is the use of friction between the two parts that are being joined, so let’s get started!

Introduction

Laser cut components are often made of a thin sheet of metal that is then cut into the desired shape. When laser cutting, it is important to keep in mind what type of material will be used for the finished product. For example, if the goal is to make something that will need to be as light as possible, there are a few different types of metals that could be used. 

They include aluminum, copper, or brass. These materials also offer different levels of durability so it’s important to keep in mind how the finished product will need to perform in order to choose the right one for your needs.

In addition, when laser cutting components it’s important not to forget about joining them together!  A lot of times, we just assume they’ll fasten themselves somehow but oftentimes this isn’t the case. 

There are a number of ways to join laser cut parts without fasteners including: welding, adhesives, screwing, riveting and more. The key is finding out which option works best for your situation based on cost and personal preference.

Designing joints to avoid fasteners

The easiest way to create joints that can be joined without fasteners is to use a dovetail or box joint. Box joints are common in furniture construction. The process is simple; first, the two pieces are cut with a band saw or laser cutter using the desired angle, which will form one side of the joint. 

Then, they are glued together with wood glue while clamped tightly on both ends by C-clamps. Finally, they are either allowed to dry overnight or heated up with boiling water for five minutes before removing the clamps. This process creates a strong joint without fasteners. A more complicated but still simple method of joining two pieces without fasteners is dovetails.

• Tab and slot designs

Another popular joining method in laser cutting is the tab-and-slot method. 

There are two types of this design, one where a slot matches up with a tab on another piece of material, and one where the slot goes through an eyelet hole in another piece of material. 

The tabs have a beveled edge which mates with the slot or eyelet hole, creating a joint that is both strong and easy to disassemble. This design works great for joining pieces at any angle.

These types of joints can be glued together, but they can also be easily disassembled if necessary.

• Bent Tabs design

Bent Tabs are a novel way of joining laser cut parts without using fasteners such as screws or nuts. The tabs are bent such that one tab fits into the other tab’s slot in order to hold the two parts together. This design can be used for all sorts of applications, including but not limited to furniture construction and 3D printing. 

The tabs can be made from various materials depending on what is most convenient. For example, they can be made from paper or cardboard, plastic, metal, or other materials. If you want your Bent Taps to last longer then you should use a more durable material such as steel or aluminum.

• Hooks design

Using hooks can substantially speed up the assembly process of your design and also do not require any fasteners in the process. A hook is a simple version of a tab. It consists of a slot and a hook, which protrudes through the other end. The hook has a notch in it equal to the material’s thickness. 

Since the hook slides down into the slot, the notch of the design must match the slot at the bottom in order to get the desired assembly positioning. Clearance is needed for the entire length of the hook, not just for the notch. A single joint can have multiple hooks. With enough force, those hooks can be undone and the assembly dismantled. Hooks can be used with both thin and thick material. The more hooks, the more secure the bond.