Uses of Rivets in Manufacturing(injection molding automotive Alfred)
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- source:BREDA CNC Machining
Rivets have been used since ancient times but became more popular during the industrial revolution when mass production required strong and reliable joining methods. Today, rivets continue to be indispensable fasteners with a multitude of uses across many industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics and more.
Some of the key properties that make rivets so useful include:
- Strength - Riveted joints have high shear and tensile strength capable of withstanding dynamic loads. The deformation of the rivet shank provides a tight clamping force to hold materials securely together.
- Reliability - Properly installed rivets provide reliable permanent joints that rarely loosen or fail over time, even under vibration and fluctuating forces.
- Versatility - Rivets come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and materials to accommodate many joint requirements and design specifications.
- Cost Effectiveness - Automated riveting technology allows for fast mass production of riveted assemblies at low unit cost. Minimal skill is required for manual riveting as well.
- Weight Savings - Riveting provides joints with high strength-to-weight ratios important in weight sensitive applications like aircraft.
- Dissimilar Materials - Rivets can join dissimilar metals or other materials not amenable to welding or adhesives.
Some of the most common uses for rivets across manufacturing industries include:
Aerospace
Rivets are the preferred fastener for joining aluminium airframe structures on both commercial and military aircraft. Hundreds of thousands of rivets are used to assemble frame components, skin panels, stringers, bulkheads and other parts on planes. Rivets provide reliable vibration resistant joints on wings, fuselages and flight control surfaces operating under extreme dynamic loads. Lightweight aircraft rivets help minimize aircraft weight.
Automotive
The automobile body-in-white consists of stamped sheet metal panels joined together largely by rivets. Robotic riveting workcells rapidly fasten components like fenders, doors, hoods and body sides to create strong monocoque structures able to withstand crash forces. Rivets are also used to assemble engine and drivetrain components.
Appliances
Home appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers and ovens use thousands of rivets to reliably secure the outer sheet metal housings and frames along with interior parts. The vibration resistance and reliability of rivets over thread fasteners make them well suited for appliances.
Electronics
Rivets are common in electronics assemblies to fasten circuit boards, internal chassis frames, enclosures, heat sinks and wire harnesses. The clinching function helps avoid loose components while resisting shock, vibration and temperature fluctuations in electronics equipment life cycles.
Construction
Rivets secure rebar intersections on reinforced concrete structures. Steel rivets provide high shear strength connections on steel bridges, buildings, towers, cranes and more. Rivets are also used for cladding, handrails, ladders, platforms, drainage systems and roofing applications.
Transportation
Beyond auto bodies, rivets assemble many other transportation equipment structures from railway coaches and off-road vehicles to cargo containers and utility trailers. Rivets provide reliable vibration-resistant fastening on components that undergo dynamic operational stresses over long service lives across various terrain.
Marine
The extensive use of rivets on boats and ships dates back over two centuries. Rivets continue to be the primary method for joining plates on hulls, masts, decks and other marine equipment where wet, saline conditions prohibit many other fasteners. The strength and integrity of rivets is crucial to mitigating risks of catastrophic failure.
Medical
Surgical tools, medical devices and dental instruments rely on rivets for precision assembly of metal components that require sterilization. The permanence of rivets prevents loosening issues caused by other fasteners in dynamic high temperature sterilization processes over product lifetimes.
Energy
Power generation, transmission, drilling equipment and supporting infrastructure utilize rivets for structural connections on heavy walled pressure vessels, pipe flanges, turbine casings, yellow iron construction equipment and oil rigs. Rivets withstand extreme vibration from engines and pumping systems in rugged conditions.
Key Rivet Types
There are many different types of rivets designed to meet varied performance requirements. Some of the most common industrial rivet types include:
Solid Rivets - Most common type with a solid shank. Used for general applications. Easy to install but shank cannot contract upon cooling leading to potential loosening.
Blind Rivets - Have a built-in mandrel that is pulled to deform the rivet. Allows riveting in blind locations only accessible from one side. Used extensively in aerospace. Provides high clamping force but only moderate shear strength.
Self-Plugging Rivets - Combine solid rivet strength with blind rivet convenience. Mandrel fills hole upon installation. Requires access to back side to break mandrel stem.
Structural Rivets - Extra large in size to carry structural loads in construction and infrastructure applications. Require pneumatic hammer tools for installation.
Drive Rivets - Spiked ends are driven into materials using a hammer rather than inserting through holes. Quick installation but lower strength. Used for temporary scaffolding and formwork.
Multi-Grip Rivets - Single rivet style covers wide grip range for varying material stack ups. Reduces inventory requirements.
Specialty Rivets - Used for unique requirements like insulation, flush mounting, flexibility or conductivity. May feature plastic or rubber construction.
In summary, rivets are versatile, strong, reliable and cost-effective permanent fasteners used everywhere from airplanes and appliances to oil rigs and medical devices. Advancements in rivet technology and automated riveting continue to expand applications across many industries. The functionality and proven performance of rivets ensure they will remain a trusted assembly method for the foreseeable future. CNC Milling CNC Machining