Heat staking also known as thermoplastic staking is the process of joining two dissimilar materials together . In heat staking we use local heating and cooling to raise the temperature of plastic components and allow plastic reforming to be carried out. This reforming can be used in a wide variety of applications.

The plastic is deformed by heating it to a temperature above the glass transition temperature. Super-heated air or a thermode is used for this. Pressure is then applied to create the stake. After the stake has been formed, the plastic should be cooled down again below the glass transition temperature. Cooling is performed under constant pressure to ensure good fixation of the parts. Compressed air can be applied for cooling when a thermode is used.

Heat is used to facilitate the creation of the stake. Heat control is critical, especially for glass-filled plastics which often have a process window of less than 10 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is too high, the glass fibers come out of the plastic which leads to a rough surface and adhesion to the thermode. If the temperature is too low, the plastic will crack due to cold deformation.