Quality Rivets for CNC Machines(bronze density Claire)
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What Are Rivets?
A rivet is a mechanical fastener that secures two or more pieces of material by passing a shaft through aligned holes in the pieces and forming a head on one or both ends. Rivets come in a wide variety of head styles, materials, and sizes to accommodate different applications and material thicknesses. They provide a permanent mechanical attachment that doesn’t require welding, adhesives, or other methods.
Common reasons for using rivets in manufacturing include:
- Joining thin sheets and plates where welding isn’t feasible. Rivets don’t require access to both sides of a joint.
- Fast assembly of components where speed is important. Rivet installation is quick compared to many other fastening methods.
- Applications where a permanent, vibration-resistant fastening method is needed. The mushrooming of the rivet head tightly locks materials together.
- Ability to handle stresses from multiple directions compared to other fasteners like screws.
- Lower cost and weight compared to bolts and nuts in some applications.
Why Use Special Rivets for CNC?
While standard rivets can be used in some CNC applications, rivets specially engineered for computer numerical control machines offer benefits including:
Consistent Quality: CNC rivets are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances so each rivet’s dimensions, head shape, material strength and other parameters are highly consistent. This allows for precision fastening during automated production.
Optimized Materials: Rivets designed for CNC applications utilize materials that are compatible with high-speed automated installation and resistant to deformation. Materials like hardened steel prevent issues like mushrooming or bending under pressure from CNC machinery.
Reliable Feeding: CNC rivets are supplied in specifically designed feeders, tubes, or strips that interface with CNC machinery for trouble-free automated feeding. Specialized geometries and coatings prevent jamming even at high machine speeds.
Faster Cycle Times: The materials and geometries of CNC rivets allow for rapid heating, forming, and installation in machines. Automated feeding and drilling alignment further optimize cycle times.
Lower Production Costs: By preventing problems with rivet quality consistency, feeding, and installation, CNC rivets can significantly reduce machine downtime and improve production efficiency. Their optimized design lowers costs per unit produced.
CNC rivets are engineered to maximize production speed and quality in automated environments where standard rivets may underperform.
Choosing the Best CNC Rivets
With an overview of why CNC rivets are important, let’s look at the key factors in selecting the optimal rivets for your CNC application:
Rivet Material
Steel is the most common CNC rivet material due to its strength, durability, and ability to be heat-treated. Carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and aluminum are common options. Consider corrosion resistance requirements and whether the material will deform during heading.
Rivet Size
Rivet diameters range from 1/16 inch to over 1 inch. Choose the smallest diameter rivet that meets the application’s strength needs. Smaller rivets allow faster heating and heading for reduced cycle times.
Head Style
Common CNC rivet heads include round heads, countersunk heads, modified heads, and specialty heads like those for aerospace applications. Select heads suited for the materials being joined and consider head height.
Coatings
Special coatings like zinc, cadmium, and lubricants are used on some CNC rivets to reduce friction during automated feeding, prevent corrosion, and allow heading without deforming the rivet.
Feed Method
CNC rivets come in collated strips, bulk feeders, vibratory bowl feeders, and tubes. Work with your machinery manufacturer to select the optimal feed method.
Certifications
For critical applications, choose rivets that meet industry certifications like AS9100 for quality management and controls during manufacturing.
Reputable CNC Rivet Brands
When sourcing rivets for CNC machinery, go with established brands known for quality and consistency. Top manufacturers of CNC-optimized rivets include:
- Avdel: Offers Monobolt and InstaLok rivets designed for precision automated installation. Wide range of materials, head styles, and sizes.
- Cherry Aerospace: Trusted provider of aerospace and defense rivets including specialty CNC designs. Known for performance under pressure.
- Gesipa: CNC rivets from this brand feature hardened materials and tolerance as tight as +/- .02mm for precision automation.
- LobsterLock: Provides all-steel CNC rivets that resist deformation during heading. Specialized for performance in robotic environments.
- PennEngineering: Leading brand offering extensive selection of CNC rivets for high-speed automation. Proven feeding reliability.
While standard rivets can work for some CNC applications, using rivets engineered specifically for automated precision installation will improve quality, speed, and reliability. By selecting the right CNC rivet size, material, head type, coatings, and feed method for your application, you can achieve optimal rivet performance in computer-controlled machinery. Trust quality brands like Avdel, Cherry, Gesipa, LobsterLock, and PennEngineering to supply your production line with exceptional CNC rivets. CNC Milling CNC Machining