Foundation Bolts: Types and Applications
Foundation bolts are mainly used in pre-engineered buildings manufacturing, fastening heavy machines to foundations,and construction. They are also used in process-based businesses like petrochemical, sugar, and FMCG manufacturing. It is mostly used for industrial purposes and therefore made with heavy duty stainless steel or carbon steel. However, at ITA Fasteners, we can manufacture customised foundation bolts with any material of your request.
The type of foundation bolt you should opt for depends on various factors like the size of the machine the foundation bolts are to be used on and the forces you expect the machine to withstand.
Foundation Bolts Setting - The Process
Foundation bolts are mostly used to set machines on concrete floorings. Here is how the process goes:
Initially, the position of the bolts is marked on the ground. Then, dimensionally accurate holes are dug in their exact positions. The bolts are then suspended on their respective holes and the concrete is poured around it. Once the concrete sets, the suspensions are removed and the machine is installed.
Types of Foundation Bolts
Eye Foundation Bolt
The eye foundation bolt has one end of it forged to bend and look like an eye. The eye-end also has a cross piece fixed in it for the setting of the machine. These bolts are used to securely hold industrial grade cables which need to be able to withstand strong movements, winds and pressure.
L/J Foundation Bolt
These foundation bolts are used to hold together significantly heavy support structures. They mostly find their application in electrical and cell phone towers. Depending on the required tensile strength, these bolts can be manufactured in various grades of stainless steel.
Bent Foundation Bolt
These bolts feature a signature bend on one end and can be set in either concrete or stone beds. The bolts are initially set in lead and then the whole assembly is set in concrete for improved hold. To secure the base of the machines in place, an industry-grade screw is used. The bend on the lower end results in a firmer grip.
Rag Foundation Bolt
This unique foundation bolt has a tapered body which comes with grooves on all sides of its body and a square or rectangular cross-section. Similar to the bent foundation bolt, it is mandatory to first allow the rag bolts to set in lead before allowing the whole assembly to set in concrete.
Lewis Foundation Bolt
These bolts are unique in design as well as usage. Lewis foundation bolts are tapered in width on one side and come with keys which allow it to be removed with ease. Therefore, these bolts are used predominantly for lifting and moving huge blocks of stones instead of fastening machines to a foundation. To use this bolt, a foundation block is used to create a pit in cement concrete. Once the concrete sets in, the Lewis foundation bolt is placed inside it with the tapered side of the bolt facing the tapered face of the pit. On the straight faces of the bolt and the pit, a key is inserted to enable the removing of the bolt. Like we mentioned before, this bolt is used mainly to lift and shift heavy stones. Therefore, the other end of the bolt can be forged into a loop to allow for its easy lifting.
Cotter Foundation Bolt
These bolts are used specifically for installing heavy machinery in place. The bolt has a rectangular slot in the bottom to facilitate the insertion of the cotters. Please note that a washer has to be used to act as the bearing surface for the cotter.
Plate Type Foundation Bolt
A very popular bolts types of foundation bolts, the plate type foundation bolt comes with a housing plate on one end and heavy-duty threadings on the other end. This is popularly used in the construction industry.
In addition to these, you can also find application-specific foundation bolts made out of various materials. If you are looking for Bent, Rag or Lewis foundation bolts, it might be hard to come across vendors who provide you with the customisability or service excellence we offer at ITA Fasteners.
We recently shipped four tons worth of L-type Foundation Bolts to Qatar. For that order, we were lauded for the promptness in delivery and the uncompromised condition in which the bolts reached our clients
Reach out to us on sales@itafasteners.com for more information or quotes for any bolt types of foundation bolts. We’re always happy to help.