A riveting machine is a custom machine that has been designed and built specifically for a specific type of riveting process. Riveting is a metal fastening technique that can be automated with great success as it is a repetitive process that can work very quickly. There are a variety of different riveting processes including impact, self-piercing, orbital and spiralform. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Each also requires a different amount of energy to set a rivet. A riveting machine can be used to help companies automate their riveting process and increase the quality of their finished product while saving time and money on labour.
Impact riveting machines set the rivet by driving it downwards through the materials to be joined and onto a forming tool (known as a rollset). This causes the end of the rivet to flare out which joins the two materials together. It is a highly efficient process with a cycle time of about 0.5 seconds. It produces high strength joints and has good fatigue resistance. It is often used for thicker materials or multiple layers of materials such as plastics and aluminium alloys. It can be fully automated with robot mounting and is a suitable process for continuous production.
Self-piercing riveting machines are often used in automated systems as they have a low energy requirement for setting a rivet. They are a simple and reliable method of joining deformable materials such as foam, rubber and polystyrene and can be used to replace spot welding. This is a very clean process with no fume emissions and does not require clamping. It can be robot mounted to operate in a flow-line. It is also a relatively easy to use process and can be operated by one person with little training.
The BM-92 manual riveter is a high-quality machine designed for professional use. It has a sturdy lever, body and mount and is made of cast aluminum for greater resistance. It has a long handle and nozzle holder that allows it to reach into tight spaces. It is a versatile tool that can quickly place 2.4 to 4.8 mm rivets and 4.8/5.0 mm S-clover, hardgrip and hardlock rivets.
Orbital riveting machines apply a constant force to the workpiece using a series of wheels that circle around it. This creates a circular deformation of the rivet with a rose-petal pattern. This is a highly accurate process with a low cyle time and low power requirements. It can be operated by a single operator and is very popular with manufacturers of electronic housings, car bodies and furniture.
Radial riveting is a newer process that uses a powerful but smooth peen to combine or join dissimilar materials by applying forces that are radially, tangentially and overlying – in other words three directions around the rivet. This process is ideal for applications where a high-quality joint is required because of its very low tool load and the excellent surface structure that it yields.