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Unread 19-12-2006, 00:24
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Re: Riveting up a frame

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisH View Post
What do you call a 747?





A million rivets flying in formation!


Back in the days when Northrop Grumman was just plain Northrop, we built the fuselage for 747s. We also installed 3/4 of those million rivets. (Actually I think it was 995,000 but at that point who's counting?)

In modern aircraft structure rivets are often used for joints that are never intended to come apart. Just walk down the F-18 line with me sometime and listen to all the rivet guns, and just why do you suppose hearing protection is required in all the assembly areas?

Used properly, rivets are a very practical fastening method, but they have to be done right to work. That means matching the rivet diameter and length to the hole, countersinking to the correct depth for flush rivets, and using the proper mandrels and riveting tools. But if it is good enough for a modern fighter aircraft if ought to be good enough for a FIRST robot.
I went on a tour of some production lines and was amazed at how many rivets were being used.