Snap Fastener Components

Most Snap Systems consist of four basic components, a SOCKET and a STUD, each of which is secured to the material with either an EYELET or a decorative CAP depending on the application.

Socket   Round spring:         Parallel Spring:       Segmented Spring:	The SOCKET provides the holding power. The socket can have a: ROUND SPRING, PARALLEL SPRING, OR SEGMENTED SPRING. See chart above for functional descriptions of each.
Stud   Open Stud:        Closed Stud:	The STUD has a raised part with a groove all the way around it for the spring in the socket to hold onto. An OPEN STUD is attached by ROLLING. A CLOSED STUD is attached by CRUSHING. See Methods of Attachment below.
Attachment Options Eyelets:       Caps:       Prongs:	The socket or stud is attached to the material with an eyelet, decorative cap or prong  (see Methods of Attachment). An EYELET has a flat wide disk attached to a "post" or "stud", Some of our Eyelets have a decorative element. A CAP is an Eyelet with an additional decorative cap attached - see Types of Caps below for some of the options we have available.. PRONGS are used to attach our garment snaps and since they don't protrude they're more comfortable against the skin.

Tension (Strength of Attachment)

The functional parts of a snap fastener are the socket and the stud: the spring in the socket  grips a groove in the stud to hold both sides together. The socket and stud can be used in various combinations to generate different tensions (holding power).

With parallel and round spring sockets, the strength of the spring controls how much pressure is required to separate the two pieces of material.   The following shows the spring in a "Parallel Spring Snap Fastener" holding the stud:

With segmented sockets, there is no spring, and the configuration of the segments controls how much pressure is required to separate the two pieces.

Post Length

An Eyelet or Cap is used to fasten sockets and studs to the material. If  the post is too short, it won't hold; if it's too long, it could deform the stud or socket.

We have Eyelets and Caps with a range of post lengths to accommodate a variety of material thicknesses and size of the stud or socket - call us for recommendations.