High Quality Rivets for CNC Machining Applications(surface roughness symbol Dwight)
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Rivets are a crucial component in many CNC machined parts and products. Selecting the right rivets is important to ensure strength, durability, and quality in the final product. This article will examine key aspects of quality rivets for CNC machining applications.
What are Rivets?
A rivet is a mechanical fastener that consists of two main parts - a threaded cylindrical shaft and a head. Rivets are inserted into pre-drilled holes in two or more layers of materials to be joined. The rivet is then deformed on the tail end, flaring it out to secure the layers together. The flared tail keeps the rivet in place.
Rivets come in a variety of head shapes, materials, sizes and strengths to suit different applications. Common head shapes include round, countersunk, and brazier. Popular rivet materials are aluminum, steel, titanium, copper, and monel. Sizes range from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch in diameter.
Advantages of Rivets for CNC Machining
Rivets offer several benefits that make them a popular choice for CNC machined components:
- High strength: Properly installed rivets form a tight connection that can often be stronger than the materials being joined. This allows thinner, lighter materials to be used.
- Vibration resistance: Riveted joints maintain integrity in high vibration environments better than many other joining methods. This makes them well-suited for automotive and aircraft applications.
- Easy installation: Riveting is a fast, simple process that can often be automated on CNC machinery, allowing efficient high-volume production. Minimal equipment is required.
- Reusability: Rivets can usually be removed and replaced if needed for repairs or part updates. This aids serviceability.
- Lightweight: Rivets add very little weight versus other alternatives like welding or bolting. Weight reduction is a priority in many industries.
Key Properties of Quality Rivets
To consistently produce high-quality riveted products on CNC equipment, rivets with the following properties are recommended:
- Tight dimensional tolerances: For reliable automated feeding and setting, rivet shafts and heads should adhere closely to specified diameters and geometries.
- Optimized hardness: The rivet must be strong enough to deform and grip the workpieces, but excessive hardness can result in brittle failure. Heat treatment is often used to achieve the ideal hardness.
- Smooth surface finish: Any surface irregularities can impede automated feeding. A smooth, uniform finish allows smooth automated processing.
- Minimal flash: Excess material ("flash") from the rivet forming process can inhibit joint assembly and strength. Quality rivets have minimal flash.
- Concentricity: The rivet head should be precisely concentric to the shaft to avoid skewing during insertion and setting.
- Proper alloy: Different alloys provide varied strengths and setting characteristics. Consult your application requirements when selecting an alloy.
- Tight grip: Quality rivets expand to grip the workpieces with consistent force to prevent slipping and ensure solid joining. Grip strength depends partly on alloy and hardness.
- Corrosion resistance: Materials and platings are chosen to prevent corrosion in the expected operating environment. Stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance.
Rivet Quality Control
To verify consistent quality, reputable rivet suppliers use inspections like:
- Dimensionalchecks with optical comparators, CMMs, and other precision tools. All critical dimensions are confirmed to meet specifications.
- Hardness testing via Rockwell and Brinell methods. Samples are destruction tested to verify heat treatment effectiveness.
- Grip testing by pulling samples to measure force required to dislodge rivets from test pieces. Adequate grip strength is ensured.
- Salt spray testing to check corrosion resistance by exposing samples to a salt fog and evaluating corrosion after a set duration.
- Microscopic examination to check surface finish, head concentricity, flash, and other visual parameters.
By using quality-controlled rivets and following proper CNC setup and riveting procedures, manufacturers can achieve reliable, repeatable joining results with riveted assemblies. Partnering with an experienced rivet supplier is key to success. CNC Milling
What are Rivets?
A rivet is a mechanical fastener that consists of two main parts - a threaded cylindrical shaft and a head. Rivets are inserted into pre-drilled holes in two or more layers of materials to be joined. The rivet is then deformed on the tail end, flaring it out to secure the layers together. The flared tail keeps the rivet in place.
Rivets come in a variety of head shapes, materials, sizes and strengths to suit different applications. Common head shapes include round, countersunk, and brazier. Popular rivet materials are aluminum, steel, titanium, copper, and monel. Sizes range from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch in diameter.
Advantages of Rivets for CNC Machining
Rivets offer several benefits that make them a popular choice for CNC machined components:
- High strength: Properly installed rivets form a tight connection that can often be stronger than the materials being joined. This allows thinner, lighter materials to be used.
- Vibration resistance: Riveted joints maintain integrity in high vibration environments better than many other joining methods. This makes them well-suited for automotive and aircraft applications.
- Easy installation: Riveting is a fast, simple process that can often be automated on CNC machinery, allowing efficient high-volume production. Minimal equipment is required.
- Reusability: Rivets can usually be removed and replaced if needed for repairs or part updates. This aids serviceability.
- Lightweight: Rivets add very little weight versus other alternatives like welding or bolting. Weight reduction is a priority in many industries.
Key Properties of Quality Rivets
To consistently produce high-quality riveted products on CNC equipment, rivets with the following properties are recommended:
- Tight dimensional tolerances: For reliable automated feeding and setting, rivet shafts and heads should adhere closely to specified diameters and geometries.
- Optimized hardness: The rivet must be strong enough to deform and grip the workpieces, but excessive hardness can result in brittle failure. Heat treatment is often used to achieve the ideal hardness.
- Smooth surface finish: Any surface irregularities can impede automated feeding. A smooth, uniform finish allows smooth automated processing.
- Minimal flash: Excess material ("flash") from the rivet forming process can inhibit joint assembly and strength. Quality rivets have minimal flash.
- Concentricity: The rivet head should be precisely concentric to the shaft to avoid skewing during insertion and setting.
- Proper alloy: Different alloys provide varied strengths and setting characteristics. Consult your application requirements when selecting an alloy.
- Tight grip: Quality rivets expand to grip the workpieces with consistent force to prevent slipping and ensure solid joining. Grip strength depends partly on alloy and hardness.
- Corrosion resistance: Materials and platings are chosen to prevent corrosion in the expected operating environment. Stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance.
Rivet Quality Control
To verify consistent quality, reputable rivet suppliers use inspections like:
- Dimensionalchecks with optical comparators, CMMs, and other precision tools. All critical dimensions are confirmed to meet specifications.
- Hardness testing via Rockwell and Brinell methods. Samples are destruction tested to verify heat treatment effectiveness.
- Grip testing by pulling samples to measure force required to dislodge rivets from test pieces. Adequate grip strength is ensured.
- Salt spray testing to check corrosion resistance by exposing samples to a salt fog and evaluating corrosion after a set duration.
- Microscopic examination to check surface finish, head concentricity, flash, and other visual parameters.
By using quality-controlled rivets and following proper CNC setup and riveting procedures, manufacturers can achieve reliable, repeatable joining results with riveted assemblies. Partnering with an experienced rivet supplier is key to success. CNC Milling