What sizes and materials of rivets have can you recommend for general construction? Do you use different rivets for different purposes?
Last year we used a variety and this year I’d like to standardize. The 1/8" aluminum rivets that we used seemed up to the task, but I wanted to solicit some feedback before going in that direction.
A lot of teams us 3/16th rivets because the hole for the rivet is the same as a clearance hole for a number 10 or can be drilled out very slightly for a tap for a 1/4-20.
We use 5/32" Rivets for almost everything. Aluminum Rivet, Aluminum Mandrel. We punch a 0.163" hole, which works as a (tight) clearance for 8-32 screws, also.
We use 1/4" Rivets and 1/8" Rivets in certain “bigger or smaller” applications, but only in moderation.
-John
We use 3/16 aluminuim rivets mostly. On the most load bearing structural joints (ie, the corners of the frame) we use 1/4. Keep in mind that the 1/4"ers need a larger tool to install. We have a pnumatic rivit gun which is one of the most helpful tools in our shop. Get one.
On another note, make sure you get the grip length right. (I’m forgetting the exact term right now.) Rivits are designed to go through only a certain range of material thicknesses, so get the right ones.
We use 3/16" stainless steel rivets for attaching tread to our wheels.
We also occasionally use solid Al rivets if they are needed for a particular application.
2815 used the heck out of 1/8" aluminum rivets, 1/8" grip range. I expect us to do the same, unless we find they don’t work well underwater.
Big 1/4" aluminum rivets. Lots and lots of them. It’s kinda insane how many we go through. All of our sheet metal is 3/4" spaced 1/4" holes, which we either stitch completely or every other hole, depending on seam length and how much structure we really need there. We also use 1/4" button heads to assemble the chassis prior to final riveting to ensure everything will fit correctly.
We also use the Big Pneumatic Riveter. Das Good.
Team 100’s rivited frame last year was awesome.
Mostly 5/32" and 1/8", of course it depends on the materials being riveted, and where it is on the robot. Much of the stuff we do with rivets is connecting gusset plates to tubes, generally 1/16" thick. Thicker materials get bigger rivets. We seldom find a need for 3/16" rivets, and have never used 1/4" rivets. We also use a lot of #10 and 1/4" screws and bolts, mostly where stuff needs to be disassembled.
Rivets are a great fastener to use. We has some problems with 1/8" rivets last year when they were not being used in shear(design flaw). If you standardize 1/8" keep this in mind, and only use rivets for shear loads. We are standardizing 3/16" this year, because it matches up with #10 clearance, and it should hold up to much if not all the abuse you give it.
To All,
I was taught in Engineering to use a standard for any product I am going to use. Calulate the forces on a joint. At least estimated to loads both in Tension and in Shear.
You will notice in this standard I picked for blind rivets that have an Aluminum body and a steel mandrel the Tensile Strength and Shear Stengths are very close to being equal. Of course as the dimameter increases the strength will increase.
http://www.structural-rivets.com/Pro_show.asp?id=1009&fid=98&cid=105
Have fun!
Proper installation is very important in any rivet application or joint.
Riveting into aluminum is finicky. Aluminum tends to deform before the rivets actually break.
We prefer using aluminum mandrel rivets and designing so that the joints will mainly encounter shear loads. This makes for stronger joints. Aluminum mandrel rivets are also slightly lighter and much easier to drill out.