What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
(OP)
My boss calls it a knurlock *(or knurl-lock?)
Some others call it a threaded insert. What is it supposed to be called?
It is inserted into a plastic part using ultrasonics or heat to place a thread into the hole. The knurled sides make it stay fast in the plastic material.
This opens up the discussion for many other things that are commonly referred to by their trademark name, such as Vaseline (petroleum jelly), Velcro (fabric hook-and-loop fastener), Delrin (Polyoxymethylene plastic) etc etc...
Is it acceptable to refer to parts by their Trademark or should effort be made to use their proper names? I assume that not every Engineer in the world is familiar with the term knurlock, making inter-company communication difficult...
Some others call it a threaded insert. What is it supposed to be called?
It is inserted into a plastic part using ultrasonics or heat to place a thread into the hole. The knurled sides make it stay fast in the plastic material.
This opens up the discussion for many other things that are commonly referred to by their trademark name, such as Vaseline (petroleum jelly), Velcro (fabric hook-and-loop fastener), Delrin (Polyoxymethylene plastic) etc etc...
Is it acceptable to refer to parts by their Trademark or should effort be made to use their proper names? I assume that not every Engineer in the world is familiar with the term knurlock, making inter-company communication difficult...
Adriaan.
I am an Engineer/part time student (Mechatronics) from South Africa.
Advice from lecturer: "Be warned - when you go into industry your boss will give you a thousand things to do and he wants them done yesterday!" So far he is right...





RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
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RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
I've long held the philosophy that a few extra keystrokes can prevent many future memos. As for trade names, I did enough work for the Corps of Engineers (US Army) to get myself out of the habit of ever using them except maybe in an explanatory note, or in a list of at least three alternate manufacturers.
30 years ago, we weren't even allowed to refer to Scotch tape. It was "adhesive-backed transparent acetate or cellophane strip."
Good on ya,
Goober Dave
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
However, I'd generally try to keep the term generic. As suggested above, you could as reference give the trademark name in some situations.
Of course, on drawings, it shouldn't be much of an issue as you'd normally either explicitly state the manufacturer and manufacturer PN, possibly with the 'or equivalent' qualifier. Or you'd have an internal specification, source control drawing or similar to reference that defines the item
Right?
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
"Good to know you got shoes to wear when you find the floor." - Robert Hunter
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
For this specific case, I would use threaded insert or knurled threaded insert. The benefit of adding the word knurled is that it differentiates these parts from other threaded inserts like wire thread (e.g. Heli-Coil) and key-locked (e.g. Keensert).
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
...hence, DRWeig's advice "Knurled threaded inserts." is perfect.
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
Please supply 1-off, self-powered vehicle, suitable for transporting 4 adults and their luggage between locations.
- Steve
RE: What's the proper name? Trademark name woes...
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
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Motivation: Don't ask