Use of pop-rivets?

[M.Wong]

We really only use them on IFI wheels. Other than that, we really don't. We've found that replacing a rivet takes longer than a bolt, and rivets aren't quite as forgiving when replacing.

[Aren_Hill]

Originally Posted by M.Wong

We've found that replacing a rivet takes longer than a bolt, and rivets aren't quite as forgiving when replacing.

I know a few people who will argue you to the death on that one.

If you want to see rivets, check out a 1501,217,148,33 machine

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by M.Wong

We've found that replacing a rivet takes longer than a bolt...

Wanna race?? You unbolt and rebolt a screw, while I drill and re-pop a rivet...we will see who wins

Seriously though, rivets are very easy to remove/replace.

-Brando

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Wanna race?? You unbolt and rebolt a screw, while I drill and re-pop a rivet...we will see who wins

Seriously though, rivets are very easy to remove/replace.

-Brando

I've heard this tossed around forever, and yes, drilling out a rivet and reriveting with a drill is fast... compared to a bolt with hand tools.

When the bolt is allowed to be removed with a drill (we have have ballpoint hex bits in nearly every size, along with a couple handrills with clutches, and a 6", 12", 18" and 24" extension... Not to mention 90% of the bolts on the bot use the exact same hex/wrench size), it gets a lot more even. I'd almost even lean towards a bolt winning; we can remove bolts in obscure buried places where no rivet could be drilled out.

That being said, I LOVE rivets. I just wanted to throw the counterargument out there.

I feel there is no right method and right answer, it's all about using the appropriate item in the appropriate place.

[jblay]

Take a look at 1501 from especially this year and you'll see the great use of rivets.

We use them for tread mostly. We also find them very useful when you want to attach something at the edge of the robot dimensions.

I also see rivets very often in every day places especially on the nyc subway, they are everywhere.

[Tom Bishop]

We used 3/16" and !/8" pop rivets extensively on major frame components this year. The frame was put together first with bolts to get the alignment just right, then we replaced each bolt with a rivet. We also used washers to give the rivets some extra holding power.

We also used aluminum bolts with standoffs for the drive modules.

We never had any problem with rivets, and they are quite easy to drill out and replace if the need should arise.

[smurfgirl]

It depends on the robot design. It's not a trademark design item for us like it is for some teams, but on robots involving sheet metal (mainly 2007 and 2010 for us), there will be lots of rivets.

[Wayne Doenges]

In the past 6 years Team 1501 has used over 10,000 rivets.
Last years robot had over 2000 rivets
To say we know rivets would be an understatement.
We use a method called Monocoque (french for "One Skin"). Most of our robots do NOT hanve an internal structure. It is all bent aluminum. We use mostly .040" sheets. We have used T6 aluminum before also.
Anyone want to learn Monocoque? If so, e-mail me and I will get you a CD on how to do it.

[thefro526]

We've used a mix of bolts (mainly 1/4-20 with a few 3/8-16 for axles) and pop-rivets in the past with decent success. 2009 was probably our most riveted robot, where we used rivets to construct most of our upper structure.

If we ever manage to get a pneumatic rivet gun we'll probably switch almost exclusively to rivets.

[RMS11]

A bit off topic, but does anybody know a good supplier for aluminum bolts? Mcmaster is the only place that sells them that I can find, but they are almost 50cents a bolt and only offer a few sizes. Just by using them on our wheels this year, they save more weight than you might think. Thanks!

[Nigel]

your local hardware store should have what you need... we used home depot or lowes for all of that