Why Engineers Freeze Giant Bolts Before Installation

So not only did this video NOT answer the question "why do engineers freeze bolts before installation," it raised another one: why did they install it upside down? And furthermore, your account name, "S.T.E.M Explorer" is spelled wrong. If you're going to put periods after the S, T, and E, you need one after the M as well. But you actually don't need them at all, because STEM is an abbreviation and pronounced as such. I give this post an F.

Giant Bolts spoil when exposed to bacteria Freezing is done to keep the equipment fresh

They put it in the freezer so the metal contracts, shrinks the bolt just a bit so when it goes in and warms up it's the exact size. They put it upside down so they can torque stripe the nut and see if the bolt is turning during daily inspections.

Look at it this way, we all know a material expand when subjected to high temperature(thermal expansion), the reverse will be the case when they are cooled below freezing point or at freezing point(thermal contraction) Thus when the cold is no longer there the material returns back to its original size making removal almost impossible.

Because they fucked up the tolerances

The extreme cold makes the bolt shrink, after being secured it reverts back to it's original volume and makes the connection more solid

Because a one inch bolt wont fit in a one inch hole. With out some persuasion. They are freezing them so they will slide in without having to be pressed or hammered in.

So they last longer. Big bolts are only good for a couple days in the fridge.

The metal will expand as it equalizes its temperature and the assembly will be more secure

Engineers? I only see blue-collar workers doing what they are told.

Because naturally the wont fit through the holes, that is how they make it extra secure once it's in place and it's temperature settles... Only a guess tho, I could be totally wrong.

Guessing because it contracts when cold. So after they install it, it warms up and expands and creates an interference fit and is harder to loosen.

It will be bigger later

Total guess: to make them shrink a bit? Normal day-to-day heat would likely get the bolts to expand to normal?

Makes for a tight fit! The bolts are the same size as the hole. Freezing them causes the bolt to shrink just enough to squeeze into the hole. Once it warms back up it will expand and fit snug as a bug in a rug!

Showing them doing it does not explain “why” 🙄

Think of your dink in a cold shower. Your welcome.

Why would engineers be freezing bolts? Isn't that the job of a production worker?

Because removing it is the next guys problem

@grok Why would they freeze before installing and why upside down?

The same thing that happens to your Johnson after getting out of a cold pool

Those are Temu bolts. Diameter is off and wont fit the holes. They freezing them to contract.

White dumb aas niggas don't know basic Physics that metal shrinks in low temperature so it's easy to install it in holes

Easy: cold shrinks, normal temperature expands. Perfect for this situation.

Duh, it’s so they don’t have to freeze their nuts .

Coefficient of thermal expansion/contraction allows for an interference fit

Lets the metal contract, then expands as it warms up, the bolt will be unable to unscrew by vibration

Shrink Fitting-Fraction tolerance between hole thread and bolt, by dropping the temperature, the metal contracts, making it small enough to easily slide into precision machined holes.

My 10 yo daughter can answer this question. If you don't know this as an adult, you can consider yourself a dumbass

The torques transmitted by this shaft are immense, it is crucially important that there is no gap/slack/play between the two or gradual destruction will ensue. They should retighten them once warmed for the bolts would also elongate, along with the widening.

Bolts become a tiny bit smaller when frozen. They expand back to original size eventually. It’s the perfect locktite.

Se contrae el perno hasta 5 milesimas y al tomar su temperatura normal se amarra y ya no se mueve

Liquid nitrogen skrinks metals for easy installation

No flat washers? 😱

Thermal expansion