Producing High Quality Rivets with CNC Machines(types of pop rivets Ferdinand)
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- source:MAJA CNC Machining
In this article, we’ll look at how CNC machining is used to produce different types of quality rivets for various industries.
Blind Rivets for Sheet Metal and Plastics
One of the most common types of rivets produced via CNC are blind rivets, also known as pop rivets. These are used to join sheets of metal or plastic when access is only available from one side.
Blind rivets consist of a rivet body and mandrel. The rivet body is made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel or monel, while the mandrel is typically steel. The mandrel inserts into the hollow body of the rivet.
To set a blind rivet, the assembled rivet is placed into a pre-drilled hole in the materials being joined. The riveting tool presses on the mandrel head, causing the body to flare out and clamp the materials together. The mandrel snaps off when the rivet is fully set.
CNC machining enables blind rivets to be mass produced with tight diameter tolerances on the body and mandrel. This is critical for consistency during automated riveting. CNC turning centers make the tiny rivet bodies, while specialty machines chamfer, flare and insert mandrels into the bodies. An epoxy may also be applied to the mandrel for optimum performance.
The CNC process ensures every blind rivet meets specifications - including material grade, hardness, strength and appearance. For structural blind rivets, additional testing may be performed to validate shear and tensile strength.
Solid Rivets for Construction, Bridges and Heavy Machinery
Solid rivets offer even greater strength for heavy duty applications like construction equipment, infrastructure, rail cars and marine vessels.
These solid metal rivets are installed using a hammer or rivet gun to form a second head after insertion through pre-drilled holes. They create a permanent bolted joint.
Solid rivets are commonly made of steel, aluminum, copper alloys or nickel-copper. The shaft diameters and head styles vary depending on usage requirements.
CNC turning and milling provide accuracy to one thousandth of an inch when machining solid rivet blanks. Diameters must be precise to guarantee proper fit into rivet holes. Concentricity is also vital so the force from riveting tool impacts uniformly on the rivet head.
An additional CNC process called heading increases solid rivet quality. It cold forms the rivet blank into a head on one end and a point on the other. Heading makes rivets easier to insert and provides a tight fit.
Other factors like material certification, surface treatments, lot traceability and testing further ensure rivets meet industry specifications for strength, hardness and corrosion resistance.
specialty Rivets for Aerospace and Defense
The aerospace sector relies on specialty rivets optimized for lightweight aluminum and composite aircraft construction. This includes flush head rivets that sit flush within a structure versus protruding. Countersunk head rivets also become flush when an additional tool countersinks the surrounding material.
Titanium and corrosion resistant steel rivets withstand extreme environments. Oversized head rivets improve load distribution on underlying composites. And self-plugging rivets fill the bored hole after installation.
CNC enables these and other aerospace rivets to be machined with high repeatability. Post-processing adds crucial steps like heat treating, coating titanium rivets to prevent galvanic corrosion and etching serial numbers for traceability. Rigorous quality control and testing verifies aerospace grade rivets perform as expected.
Electronics Rivets for Consumer Products
In electronics, tiny tubular and round head rivets secure components inside smartphones, tablets, computers and medical devices. These micro-rivets are often 0.4mm – 1mm in diameter.
Stamping presses with CNC-operated precision tooling cut small rivet blanks from reels of copper alloy or stainless steel. Multiple operations are automated to produce finished rivets with highly controlled lengths and tip shapes. BARSOMTM rivet inserting systems then install the micro-rivets into circuit boards.
The CNC approach enables high speeds while maintaining quality control. Cameras, sensors and software check rivet dimensions and features to meet stringent electronics assembly requirements.
Rivet Quality Begins with CNC Machining
Manufacturing rivets with consistency, precision and efficiency requires CNC machining. The computer control, programming flexibility and automated features of CNC systems allow fast production of quality rivets in a variety of materials, sizes and designs.
With sound manufacturing processes built around CNC equipment, rivet producers can meet the expectations of industrial clients that rely on strong, reliable and durable riveted connections. Attention to quality also reduces defects and minimizes cost.
By leveraging the strengths of computer numerical control, manufacturers continue advancing rivet fabrication technology. This leads to better performing rivets optimized for high-volume assembly across diverse industries. CNC Milling CNC Machining