Exploring Rivets: Types and Applications for Your Project

Are you curious about the small, nail-shaped objects that hold together some of the most important structures in our world? Rivets may seem like a small detail, but they play a crucial role in industries ranging from construction to aerospace.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of rivets, exploring their different types, uses, and precautions. Whether you’re a metalworking professional or simply a curious reader, you won’t want to miss out on the fascinating world of riveting.

So, buckle up and let’s get started!

What are rivets?

Rivets are nail-shaped objects that are used to connect two components by passing through holes and being secured with caps at one end. The process of riveting involves connecting the parts by self-deformation or interference.

Blind rivet

Blind rivets are a type of rivet that are used for single-sided fastening and require a specialized tool, such as a manual, electric, or pneumatic pull riveter, for installation. This type of rivet is ideal for situations where it is difficult to use traditional rivets, which require access to both sides of the material being fastened.

Blind rivets are widely used in a variety of industries, including construction, automotive, shipping, aerospace, machinery, electrical appliances, furniture, and more. The most commonly used blind rivets are open flat round head blind rivets, but countersunk blind rivets are appropriate for smooth surfaces, and closed blind rivets are ideal for high-load applications and provide a certain level of sealing performance.

Types and uses of rivets

• Fan Rivets: These rivets are specially designed for manual installation and are used to secure components such as fans, heat sinks, and chips in electronic computer chassis. Made of elastomer materials, fan rivets are known for their toughness, ingenious design, and elastic function. They are not prone to sliding out after being installed, thanks to their corresponding hole diameter. The main purpose of fan rivets is to reduce vibration and noise in the electronic computer chassis.
• Blind Rivets: These are a new type of fastener that are convenient for riveting. Blind rivets are especially useful in narrow spaces or in environments where a traditional riveter cannot be used. Parts can be connected by knocking the nail core on one side with tools such as a hammer. Blind rivets are classified into two types based on their cap and brim shape: flat round head and countersunk head.
• Pull Rivets: These rivets can be broadly categorized into four types: open, closed, double drum, and single drum.
• Countersunk Head Blind Rivets: These rivets are used to secure parts with a smooth and attractive surface after installation.
• Double Drum Blind Rivets: These rivets are designed to reduce the pressure on the surface of the components being fastened. The rivet core pulls the end of the rivet body into a double drum shape, clamping the two parts together, and providing a secure connection. The double drum blind rivet is primarily used for fastening thin structural parts in industries such as automotive, shipping, construction, machinery, electronics, and more.
• Brim Blind Rivets: These rivets have a significantly larger aluminum cap diameter compared to traditional blind rivets. The increased contact area and stronger support surface provide greater torque strength and the ability to bear higher radial tension. These rivets are suitable for fastening soft and fragile surface materials and oversized holes, and have special protective applications for these materials.
• Closed Pop Rivets: These rivets are designed to cover the mandrel head after riveting, making them ideal for applications with waterproof requirements. They have high shear force, anti-vibration properties, and resistance to high pressure.
• All Aluminum Blind Rivets: The body of these rivets is made of high-quality aluminum wire, making them both attractive and durable. They will never rust, but have a lower riveting strength compared to traditional blind rivets and are therefore suitable for connectors with relatively soft materials.
• Open Stainless Steel Rivets: These rivets are the best choice for high tensile demand and corrosion resistance.
• Flat Head and Flat Round Head Rivets: These rivets are primarily used for fastening sheet metal or non-metallic materials such as leather, canvas, and wood.
• Semi-Hollow Rivets: These rivets are mainly used for low-load fastening applications.
• Hollow Rivets: These lightweight rivets have a weak nail head and are used for fastening non-metallic materials with low loads.

Rivet precautions

1. When checking the finished blind rivets, it is important to inspect the following: diameter of the rivet body, length of the rivet body rod, thickness of the rivet body cap and diameter of the cap, overall length of the rivet core, exposed size of the rivet core, size of the rivet cap, and outer diameter after assembly.

During the inspection, the product’s weaknesses can be tested, such as its tensile strength, shear strength, and nail core detachment force.

2. The focus should be on the rivets themselves, including insufficient pull riveting and proper placement.

Problems can also arise if the nail core cap is too large, preventing the rivet body nozzle from being pulled down.

Other issues to look out for include jumping heads, which occur when the tensile breaking force of the nail core is too low or the fracture size is too small.

3. The materials used for the rivets can include aluminum, iron, stainless steel, alloy, etc.
4. The total thickness of the workpiece should generally be between 45% and 65% of the rivet length, with 60% being the preferred maximum.

It is also important to avoid having too short of a working length. A standard of 50% to 60% is recommended under normal conditions.

Having a rivet length that is too long can result in a large rivet pier head and a prone-to-bending nail rod, while having a rivet length that is too short can lead to an insufficiently thick pier and incomplete formation of the nail head, affecting strength and tightness.

Only by using an appropriate rivet length can the best riveting effect be achieved.