The Many Uses of Rivets in Manufacturing and Construction(316 stainless steel Ella)
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Aircraft and Aerospace Applications
One of the most safety-critical uses of rivets is in aircraft construction. Rivets are used extensively throughout airplanes and spacecraft to join outer skin panels, ribs, spars and other internal structures. Aircraft rivets are specially designed to be lightweight yet extremely strong to withstand the stresses of pressurization and flight maneuvers. Certain structural rivets require a perfect installation to ensure proper load transfer. For this reason, aircraft rivets are usually heat-treated and precisely machined. The riveting process is also carefully controlled and inspected during airline maintenance routines.
In addition to metal rivets, composite materials made of carbon fiber may be secured using specialty structural adhesives that act like rivets. Whether metal or composite, rivets are integral to aircraft safety in providing a solid mechanical attachment method for the numerous parts that make up the airframe.
Automotive Uses
Automobiles also incorporate hundreds or even thousands of rivets in their construction. Rivets provide high shear strength to join the sheet metal panels that form the body as well as securing interior components. Riveted panels can also be more easily replaced if damaged. Unlike welding, riveting avoids heat distortion issues and is faster than adhesive bonding.
Self-piercing rivets are a common choice for automotive manufacturing because they can punch through layered sheets in a single action. Access limitations make manual riveting impractical for car bodies, so pneumatic rivet guns fed by bulk feeders drive the rivets quickly and consistently. Automated riveting robots further improve efficiency and precision in assembly plants.
Electronics Manufacturing
The manufacture of computers, smartphones and other electronics relies on very small rivets to assemble internal components. In smartphones, miniature rivets join thin sheets of metals like aluminum that form the frame or body. Rivets also fasten small brackets and the board that houses the phone’s electronics.
Electronics contain many layers of circuit boards, LCD screens, and other delicate parts that must be securely attached with rivets. Automated pick-and-place machines precisely insert these micro-rivets to ensure proper alignment and spacing. Using rivets provides vibration and shock resistance for fragile components. Manual riveting is still needed in some situations but is declining as robots and automation advance.
Building and Plumbing Products
Larger rivets are extensively used in building and plumbing applications as well. One example is joining sections of heating and ventilation ductwork together. Special duct rivets provided tight seals between duct joints to prevent air leakage. Rivets also assemble steel studs, cable trays, suspended ceiling grids and more.
Plumbers rely on rivets to install pipes and drains. Copper or PVC pipes may be hung from walls and ceilings using metal straps attached with rivets. Riveted brackets also secure toilet bowls, sinks and other fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens. Rivets provide an adjustable and permanent means of anchoring plumbing equipment.
Bridges and Infrastructure
Civil engineers select rivets for the immense task of assembling bridges, tunnels, dams and structural frames. Steel I-beams connected by rows of large rivets give bridges their characteristic look. The reliable load transfer of correctly driven rivets is critical for supporting dynamic loads and preventing collapse. Riveting also bonds rebar used inside concrete.
For bridge builders, the main advantage of rivets over welding is that holes can be pre-drilled with precision even when pieces are still in the shop. This pre-assembly reduces complexity during field construction. Riveting also works on any structural metal while certain alloys are unweldable. Overall, the fast action of pneumatic riveting makes it ideal for large-scale projects.
Common Hand Tools
In addition to heavy manufacturing uses, rivets are central to countless common products and hand tools. Jeans, shoes, luggage, watches, instruments and more rely on rivets for basic assembly as well as decorative accents. Pop rivets allow DIYers to easily fasten objects at home.
Examples of everyday hand tools using rivets include scissors, pliers, wire cutters and shovels. The jointed handles of these tools pivot on a riveted pin. Without a rivet, the handles would quickly bend, loosen and fail under repeated stress. The rivet permanently braces the two halves together while allowing smooth movement.
Rivets also hold together cheap, lightweight camping and outdoor equipment. Aluminum tent poles, cooking pots and lanterns designed for portability often use small rivets rather than heavier welding or nuts and bolts. Keychains, carabiners and multipurpose knives rely on rivets at their high-use joints for reliability.
Jewelry Crafting
Jewelry makers utilize tiny rivets to assemble pieces with movable or interchangeable parts. Hinged bangles and lockets pivot on a rivet. Jewelry findings like ear wires, pins, clasps and crimp beads often integrate small rivets. Charm bracelets allow charms to dangle securely from each link of the bracelet chain thanks to jump rings made of curled riveted wire. Glue and soldering are difficult for small jewelry, making rivets an ideal alternative.
Industrial Fastening Products
There are also many types of industrial fasteners designed specifically for riveting that are ubiquitous in fabrication and maintenance work. Two-piece rivets consisting of a sleeve and mandrel are common for securing pipes, wires, signs, machinery guards and more. Blind rivets and drive rivets allow one-sided installation in tight spaces. Explosive rivet guns rapidly drive rivets for railroads, construction, shipbuilding and other large projects. Pop rivets come pre-assembled for quick manual installation without tools.
In Summary
From aircraft and autos to plumbing fixtures and jewelry, rivets touch nearly every manufactured product in some way. The versatility, strength and speed of riveting make it a staple across industries. Advancements in automated riveting continue to improve its precision and consistency in all applications. Whether holding together massive steel beams or microscopic electronics, rivets will remain a key fastening technology for assembly in the future. CNC Milling
