VALUE ENGINEERING WITH RETAINING RINGS: TECHNIQUES FOR LOWERING FASTENING AND ASSEMBLY COSTS.

This paper explains the importance of selecting fasteners in relation to ″total installed cost″ - i. e. costs for materials, machining and assembly of fastening systems. It provides general information on how retaining rings are used, available types and sizes and typical product applications. It explains typical value engineering techniques for lowering costs - and the relationship of retaining rings to VE in specific areas: design simplification, elimination of expensive parts and machining, fastener assembly and disassembly.