Rivets are a fastening method used to securely join materials such as metal, plastics and other components. They are a semi-permanent joining process that can be done by drilling or punching holes and using a tool called a riveter to set the rivets. These fasteners are commonly used in industries like automotive, military equipment, leather works, furniture, trailers and electrical motors. Rivets come in a variety of materials including nickel-copper alloy, copper, aluminum, steel and stainless steel.
The main difference between welding and riveting is that welding uses heat to fuse two pieces together, whereas riveting uses pressure to deform the material around the head of the rivet. Welding is generally used for more permanent connections, but rivets are a popular alternative and have many applications that require a more temporary bond. Riveting is a great alternative to welding for parts that need to be removed or modified regularly and can be done without the need for heat, making it more environmentally friendly.
There are several types of riveting machines, each designed for different applications. The first type is a hand riveter, which allows an operator to manually set the rivets. These are typically smaller and are more suitable for small jobs or for use in confined spaces. The BRALO manual riveter is ideal for small jobs because it is lightweight and has a longer nozzle holder to allow access to tighter locations. It also comes with a range of nozzles for different applications, including 2.4, 3.0 and 4.0 mm.
Another type of riveting machine is the impact riveting machine. This uses a downward motion to drive the rivet down through the materials it is joining, then forces the end of the rivet onto a forming tool known as a rollset. This causes the end of the rivet to flare out and creates a strong bond between the materials. Impact riveting machines are very quick, with a cycle time of about 0.5 seconds.
For larger rivets, there is the orbital riveting machine. This machine has an orbiting tool that carries the rivet into place, then applies a force to crush the rivet head and secure it in place. This type of riveting machine is more accurate than other types of riveting machines and can be used in larger applications, such as for metal fabrication.
There is also a riveting machine that uses a spinning action to create the same effect as the orbital and impact machines, but with less force. This is a less precise machine, but it is suitable for applications that require a high level of precision. For even more accuracy, Orbitform offers a tool called Watchdawg that can be attached to the riveting machine to monitor the performance of the system in real-time. This tool provides a graphic representation of the force-displacement data, with tolerances displayed for different materials and rivet sizes. This information can then be used to adjust the operating parameters of the machine and improve performance.