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Unread 19-12-2006, 19:49
JessR JessR is offline
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#0571 (Team Paragon)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Windsor, CT
Posts: 27
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Re: Riveting up a frame

We have aluminum pop riveted some assemblies with excellent results.
A good design practice is to use a splice plate or gusset plate at connections between two structural members & install multiple rivets in each member.
For instance at a right angle connection between two tubes, put a triangular gusset top & bottom with 4 rivets thru the gusset plates into each tube.
This also spreads the load over a larger area of the frame tubes, reducing the likelyhood of exceeding material yield at a single concentrated point if using one rivet.
A 3/16 rivet is the same size as a #10 screw. Holes are easy to drill and they are plenty strong for anything on a FIRST robot if using multiple rivets at a joint.

1/8 rivet are great for adding small plates for limit switches etc. or reinforcing structures after it's all bolted together.
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