Producing High Quality Rivets with CNC Machinery(chamfered corners Woodrow)
- Time:
- Click:8
- source:ZIEG CNC Machining
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 drilled or punched into the materials being joined. The rivet head is then mashed against the material surface, forming a second head and clamping the materials together. The resulting deformation creates a tight connection.
Rivets come in a variety of head shapes, materials, sizes and strengths to accommodate different design requirements. Some common materials include aluminum, steel, copper, stainless steel, titanium and specialty alloys.
Key Properties of Quality Rivets
High performance rivets feature these essential attributes:
- Tight dimensional tolerances - The shaft diameter must precisely match the hole size, and head dimensions must conform to specifications. This ensures a tight fit and optimal fastening performance.
- Consistent hardness - Rivet hardness directly correlates to shear and tensile strength. Hardness should be uniform throughout each rivet and from rivet-to-rivet within a batch.
- Smooth surfaces - Smooth, scratch-free surfaces prevent galling during installation and enable consistent contact between parts. Surface defects can compromise fit and strength.
- Concentricity - The rivet head must be perfectly centered on the shaft to avoid distortion while being fastened into place.
- Material integrity - The material should be consistent throughout each rivet with no porosity or impurities which could create weak points.
How CNC Machining Delivers Quality Rivets
Computer numerical control uses programmed commands to operate machining tools with repeatable precision. This makes CNC an ideal production method for manufacturing rivets to strict specifications. Here's how it works:
CNC Wire EDM
Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) uses an electrically charged thin wire to cut through conductive materials. It is highly effective for cutting small, complex parts out of hardened steel and alloy blocks with tight tolerances of ±0.005 inches or less. The CNC program guides the wire along precise paths to cut rivet blank profiles.
CNC Turning
A CNC lathe rotating at high speeds turns bars/rods of rivet material while cutters shape the outside diameter to required shaft and head dimensions. The automated process delivers high productivity and consistency.
CNC Threading
Some rivets feature threaded shafts. CNC lathes can be tooled with a threading bit guided by CNC commands to accurately cut the desired thread pattern along the rivet shaft.
CNC Milling
CNC milling machines use rotating cutting tools to shape rivet heads and create recesses, bevels, domes and other defined head features per the design specifications. This produces high quality surface finishes.
CNC Grinding
The CNC grinding process provides exceptionally smooth surface finishes by removing very fine amounts of material. This polishes rivet shafts and heads to eliminate surface defects that could impede installation or reduce strength.
Automated Quality Control
Modern CNC machines often include integrated inspection systems to automatically verify critical dimensions and surface finish characteristics. Pass/fail results are generated without operator involvement, ensuring every rivet meets stringent quality criteria.
Rivet production with CNC machining provides the precision, consistency and efficiency needed to manufacture high performing rivets. Tight process control and automated quality checks result in rivets that satisfy even the most demanding application requirements. By leveraging CNC technology, manufacturers can cost-effectively produce exceptional rivets. CNC Milling CNC Machining