Rivets - An Invaluable Fastening Technology With Countless Uses(airplane nut Xenia)
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Rivets come in a wide variety of designs, sizes and materials to suit different applications and load requirements. Some of the most common types include:
- Solid/blind rivets - tubular rivets that are a single component. The tail is deformed with a tool to form the fastening head.
- Pop rivets - like solid rivets but have a mandrel inside that is removed after deformation to form a hollow rivet.
- Split rivets - rivets with a pre-cut split tail that folds outward during deformation.
- Drive rivets - versatile rivets installed with hammering rather than squeezing tools.
- Structural rivets - large high-strength rivets for demanding structural connections.
- Semi-tubular rivets - lighter half-tubular design rivet.
- Self-piercing rivets - rivets that pierce and fasten sheet materials without pre-drilled holes.
With this wide selection of rivet types and the ability to use various base materials (aluminum, steel, titanium, etc), riveting offers a highly adaptable joining solution. Some of the industries and applications where rivets play an indispensable role include:
Aviation and Aerospace
Aircraft construction from small private planes to huge commercial jets rely extensively on rivets for airframe and component assembly. The reliability, vibration resistance, and light weight make rivets ideal for aviation. Hundreds of thousands of rivets may be used to assemble a plane.
Automotive Manufacturing
Cars and trucks use vast quantities of rivets in body panels, frames, interior components, and under-hood assemblies. The speed and automation potential of riveting is ideal for large automotive production runs. Rivets provide reliable service through the vehicle lifetime.
Appliances and Whitegoods
Home and commercial appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, etc incorporate rivets at multiple stages of manufacture from case fabrication to installation of internal components. The process efficiency of rivets promotes cost-effective large volume production.
Electronics Equipment
Many electronics products from computers to rackmount servers rely on rivets to assemble protective outer cases and internal structural components. Riveting offers electronics manufacturers flexibility, speed, and economy.
Building Products
A wide range of building products utilize rivets in their fabrication and assembly. These include metal roofing and siding, windows, doors, solar panel frames, HVAC ducting, and drainage products. Riveting suits frequent production changeovers and limited production batch sizes common in building products.
Transportation Vehicles
Mass transit vehicles including trains, buses, utility trucks, etc need robust and reliable joining methods for body fabrication. Rivets are commonly used for rail car and bus assembly as well as truck bodies. Off-road vehicles also rely on rivets due to their vibration resistance.
Furniture
Commercial and residential furniture often use rivets for economical permanent fastening during assembly. Application examples include office furniture, kitchen cabinets, shelving, hotel furniture, stadium and arena seating, etc. Rivets allow efficient high-volume furniture production.
Musical Instruments
Many acoustic and electric guitars, woodwind instruments, drums, and other musical instruments depend on rivet assembly. The acoustical properties and air-tight integrity made possible by riveted construction are critical for musical instrument performance.
Playground Equipment
The abundant use of rivets on playground equipment is easily observed. Swing sets, jungle gyms, slides, and recreational structures all rely on rivets for structural joining during manufacturing. Rivets reliably withstand years of outdoor exposure as well as demanding vibration loads from enthusiastic children!
Storage Tanks and Pressure Vessels
Large welded tanks and pressure vessels destined for long service lives in demanding industrial environments commonly incorporate rivets for additional leak-proofing at joints and openings. Riveted reinforcements add safety margins to critical pressure boundaries.
Historical Boats and Ships
The early beginnings of rivets trace back to their extensive use in wooden boat building and steam era steel ships. Many preserved historical vessels on display still depend on deterioration-resistant riveted construction methods used by their original builders.
Modern Watercraft
Rivets continue to be specified for assemble and repair of modern aluminum boats. Small pleasure craft, large ships, and military watercraft all incorporate rivets due to their resistance to corrosion and reliable performance in marine environments.
Bridges and Steel Structures
Civil structures including bridges, transmission towers, stadiums, cranes, and offshore oil rigs all require the structural fastening integrity of rivets. Riveting remains a trusted construction method for connecting structural steel components that must endure years of service in the harshest environments.
Railways and Subways
The foundations of modern rail transportation were built with rivets joining track, locomotives, rail cars, stations, and maintenance structures. Many historic rivets are still in service today on subways, urban transport, and national rail networks around the world.
Pipelines and Petrochemical
Huge quantities of rivets are used in manufacture of industrial pipe and piping components which carry: water, chemicals, gas, sewage, steam, petrochemicals, etc. Rivets assemble pipes, valves, manifolds, pumps, heat exchangers, and other process equipment that must stand up to extreme service conditions.
Municipal Infrastructure
Water treatment plants, power stations, waste water systems, dams, public utility structures and much more civil infrastructure rely on rivets for reliable and affordable construction. Riveting remains a highly relevant and modern construction process.
Mining and Heavy Industry
Mining equipment, crushers, tumblers, ore cars, excavators, buckets, cranes, draglines, and other massive machines require the almost unbreakable strength of hot riveted assembly. The harsh demands of 24/7 mining, dredging, and cargo handling operations are met by rivets.
Space Exploration
Even mankind's efforts to explore space have relied on rivets! The Saturn 5 moon rockets and Space Shuttle orbiters made extensive use of rivet fasteners in their external skin panels and structural assemblies due to rivets proven performance and reliability.
As this overview of just some of the countless applications illustrates, rivets provide an absolutely indispensable, reliable, and economical fastening technology utilized across almost all manufacturing industries. From the earliest boats to the space age, rivets have proven their unmatched versatility as a structural fastening method. No other mechanical fastening approach combines the performance, installation efficiency, and economic value of the venerable rivet. This ancient yet modern technology will continue to securely hold together our manufactured world well into the future. CNC Milling