High Quality Rivets for CNC Machining(lathe tools names Basil)
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Rivets are a critical component in many CNC machined parts and products. While rivets may seem simple, using the highest quality rivets suited for your specific application is vital for safety, performance, and durability. Here’s an overview of how to select optimal rivets for CNC machining and what characteristics to look for when sourcing them.
What are Rivets?
A rivet is a mechanical fastener that consists of two main parts - a smooth cylindrical shaft and a head. The shaft is inserted into holes in the materials being joined and the head is upset, or deformed, to create a second head. This process mechanically fastens the materials together using the force exerted by the deformation of the rivet.
Rivets come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, materials, and strengths to accommodate many different CNC machining applications. Some of the most common types of rivets used in CNC machining include:
- Blind rivets - rivets that can be inserted and upset from only one side of a material. The mandrel shaft is pulled through the rivet body to expand the blind head.
- Solid rivets - conventional rivets with a head on either end of the shaft. Used for materials accessible from both sides.
- Structural rivets - extra strong rivets engineered for critical structural connections. Typically made of alloy steel.
- Semi-tubular rivets - hollow and extra lightweight while still providing good grip and shear strength.
Key Properties of Quality CNC Rivets
When selecting rivets for your CNC machined components, keep these key properties in mind:
Material Strength: The rivet must be strong enough for the required load capacity but not so strong that it cracks or damages the base materials. Aircraft grade aluminum, titanium, nickel alloys, and stainless steel are common rivet materials.
Size Consistency: Dimensions like shaft diameter must have tight tolerances for consistent installation and performance.
Ductility: The rivet material should be ductile enough to deform and flow into the upset head without cracking.
Corrosion Resistance: Rivets and installation holes can be vulnerable to corrosion. Stainless steel and aluminum provide good corrosion resistance.
Temperature Range: The material’s strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance must hold up under expected operating temperatures.
Head Profile: The rivet head shape should match the design specifications of the CNC machined part. Common profiles are round, flat, countersunk, and universal.
Installing CNC Rivets
Rivets can be installed manually with simple hand tools for prototyping or low volume production. However, for mass production, CNC automated riveting systems produce consistent high quality results. Here are some of the main modern riveting techniques suitable for most CNC applications:
Impact Riveting: The shaft of the rivet is held stationary while a hammer strikes and upsets the head. Used for blind rivets where access is limited to one side.
Orbital Riveting: Uses a pneumatic squeezing tool with a rotating action to deform the rivet head. Creates a very uniform impression for an attractive finish.
Radial Riveting: Heads are precisely rolled using a CNC controlled cam that provides radial force around the circumference of the rivet tip.
Ultrasonic Riveting: Very high frequency vibrations are applied to the rivet to generate heat and cause the shaft to deform and flare out the head. Ideal for softer or brittle materials.
Choosing the optimal CNC riveting method for an application depends on factors like:
- Required installation speed
- Strength/load capacity demands
- Allowable footprint on the accessible side
- Finish appearance standards
- Base material hardness and thickness
Inspecting Rivet Quality
Carefully examining installed rivets is important for confirming strength and identifying any defects that could lead to premature failure. Inspection criteria includes:
- Head height - must meet minimum design specifications
- Head diameter - within tolerable limits
- Placement accuracy - rivet centered in hole
- Flushness - head sits flush with surface
- Cracks - no cracks in shaft or head
- Pull through - shaft has not pulled through hole
- Locking collar dents - collar properly dented against hole
- Underfilling - enough shaft fill in the drilled hole
Automated optical CNC inspection systems can check rivets against these criteria to quickly identify any problem fasteners.
Rivet Failure Modes
Understanding how rivets can fail helps identify the root causes and prevent future issues. Some typical rivet failure modes include:
- Shear failure - shaft snaps from shear load exceeding capacity
- Tension failure – head pulls off from excessive axial tension
- Hole elongation - hole edges deform from excessive shear loads
- Shank bending – shaft bends due to misalignment
- Corrosion – corrosion cracking and pitting
- Wear – abrasion of the outer surfaces
- Overload failure – severe impact or fatigue loading
- Buckling – supported materials buckle under compression
Using the highest quality rivets designed for the operating environment along with robust design margins and inspection practices minimizes these potential failure risks.
Sourcing Top Quality Rivets for CNC
Finding a reputable rivet manufacturer is crucial to get rivets optimized for your CNC machining needs. Key supplier selection criteria includes:
- Broad range of rivet types, sizes, materials, strengths and specs
- Tight tolerances and quality assurance practices
- Trusted aerospace, automotive, or industrial credentials
- Local distribution network for prompt delivery
- Competitive pricing with flexibility for custom orders
- Technical support to help engineers select the optimal rivets
With an experienced supplier, you can get specialty rivets tailored to your exact CNC machining application. Investing in high quality rivets ensures optimal performance, safety, and reliability in the final products. CNC Milling
What are Rivets?
A rivet is a mechanical fastener that consists of two main parts - a smooth cylindrical shaft and a head. The shaft is inserted into holes in the materials being joined and the head is upset, or deformed, to create a second head. This process mechanically fastens the materials together using the force exerted by the deformation of the rivet.
Rivets come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, materials, and strengths to accommodate many different CNC machining applications. Some of the most common types of rivets used in CNC machining include:
- Blind rivets - rivets that can be inserted and upset from only one side of a material. The mandrel shaft is pulled through the rivet body to expand the blind head.
- Solid rivets - conventional rivets with a head on either end of the shaft. Used for materials accessible from both sides.
- Structural rivets - extra strong rivets engineered for critical structural connections. Typically made of alloy steel.
- Semi-tubular rivets - hollow and extra lightweight while still providing good grip and shear strength.
Key Properties of Quality CNC Rivets
When selecting rivets for your CNC machined components, keep these key properties in mind:
Material Strength: The rivet must be strong enough for the required load capacity but not so strong that it cracks or damages the base materials. Aircraft grade aluminum, titanium, nickel alloys, and stainless steel are common rivet materials.
Size Consistency: Dimensions like shaft diameter must have tight tolerances for consistent installation and performance.
Ductility: The rivet material should be ductile enough to deform and flow into the upset head without cracking.
Corrosion Resistance: Rivets and installation holes can be vulnerable to corrosion. Stainless steel and aluminum provide good corrosion resistance.
Temperature Range: The material’s strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance must hold up under expected operating temperatures.
Head Profile: The rivet head shape should match the design specifications of the CNC machined part. Common profiles are round, flat, countersunk, and universal.
Installing CNC Rivets
Rivets can be installed manually with simple hand tools for prototyping or low volume production. However, for mass production, CNC automated riveting systems produce consistent high quality results. Here are some of the main modern riveting techniques suitable for most CNC applications:
Impact Riveting: The shaft of the rivet is held stationary while a hammer strikes and upsets the head. Used for blind rivets where access is limited to one side.
Orbital Riveting: Uses a pneumatic squeezing tool with a rotating action to deform the rivet head. Creates a very uniform impression for an attractive finish.
Radial Riveting: Heads are precisely rolled using a CNC controlled cam that provides radial force around the circumference of the rivet tip.
Ultrasonic Riveting: Very high frequency vibrations are applied to the rivet to generate heat and cause the shaft to deform and flare out the head. Ideal for softer or brittle materials.
Choosing the optimal CNC riveting method for an application depends on factors like:
- Required installation speed
- Strength/load capacity demands
- Allowable footprint on the accessible side
- Finish appearance standards
- Base material hardness and thickness
Inspecting Rivet Quality
Carefully examining installed rivets is important for confirming strength and identifying any defects that could lead to premature failure. Inspection criteria includes:
- Head height - must meet minimum design specifications
- Head diameter - within tolerable limits
- Placement accuracy - rivet centered in hole
- Flushness - head sits flush with surface
- Cracks - no cracks in shaft or head
- Pull through - shaft has not pulled through hole
- Locking collar dents - collar properly dented against hole
- Underfilling - enough shaft fill in the drilled hole
Automated optical CNC inspection systems can check rivets against these criteria to quickly identify any problem fasteners.
Rivet Failure Modes
Understanding how rivets can fail helps identify the root causes and prevent future issues. Some typical rivet failure modes include:
- Shear failure - shaft snaps from shear load exceeding capacity
- Tension failure – head pulls off from excessive axial tension
- Hole elongation - hole edges deform from excessive shear loads
- Shank bending – shaft bends due to misalignment
- Corrosion – corrosion cracking and pitting
- Wear – abrasion of the outer surfaces
- Overload failure – severe impact or fatigue loading
- Buckling – supported materials buckle under compression
Using the highest quality rivets designed for the operating environment along with robust design margins and inspection practices minimizes these potential failure risks.
Sourcing Top Quality Rivets for CNC
Finding a reputable rivet manufacturer is crucial to get rivets optimized for your CNC machining needs. Key supplier selection criteria includes:
- Broad range of rivet types, sizes, materials, strengths and specs
- Tight tolerances and quality assurance practices
- Trusted aerospace, automotive, or industrial credentials
- Local distribution network for prompt delivery
- Competitive pricing with flexibility for custom orders
- Technical support to help engineers select the optimal rivets
With an experienced supplier, you can get specialty rivets tailored to your exact CNC machining application. Investing in high quality rivets ensures optimal performance, safety, and reliability in the final products. CNC Milling