Aircraft rivets are used to assemble aircraft. They are much lighter than screws and withstand vibration better. Rivets expand to fill the hole, unlike screws, which are turned by a head and use threads to grip the metal. Because of this, they are the perfect option for aircraft assembly.
Back Riveting
Back riveting for aircraft is a skill in which metal is nailed to metal. It is a fast and accurate process, and the finished product will have no waviness along the rivet line. It can take as little as six minutes per side. When done correctly, this process can maintain the same level of quality as normal riveting.
There are many more aircraft rivets than are structurally necessary. This is to create a smooth seam between overlapping sheets of aluminum. Otherwise, the overlapping skins would have gaps and bulges.
Blind Rivets
If you’re looking to become a better aircraft riveter, you should use blind rivets. A novice riveter can install these rivets on their first attempt. They’re not as tricky to install as traditional rivets, and they’re an excellent choice for lightweight, high-performance aircraft.
The primary purpose of rivets is to ensure the firm tightening of two materials. In addition, blind rivets also help ensure that two materials are held together firmly, making them much more robust than screws of the same diameter. This means blind rivets can also be used in small areas with limited access.
Blind rivets can be used in many aircraft applications, including those sensitive to vibration or moisture. They’re also capable of carrying the same shear load as solid rivets.
Common Pulled Rivets
Common pulled rivets in aircraft riveting are those with a round, deep head sized to provide strength to the sheet around the hole. These rivets are often used on airplane wing spars and other interior areas. They are available in various colors and marked for ease of identification.
The head shape of a rivet is usually the first determining factor in selecting the rivet. It should be circular or square in shape. There is also a difference in the length and the number of rivets with this shape. Generally, rivets with this type have a head size of one-half inch, while those with two-thirds-inch heads are smaller.
Using the proper rivet size is essential to avoid pulled rivets. The recommended rivet size for an aircraft part is 3/32 to 3/8 inches in diameter. If the rivet size is too small, it may not fit, leading to structural failure.
Universal Head Rivets
There are two basic types of universal head rivets for aircraft riveting. One type is shaped to fit a 100-degree countersunk hole, while the other is shaped to fit a smaller countersunk hole. These rivets are designated by a suffix with their diameter and length. The initial figure represents the diameter of the rivet, while the second indicates its grip length in 1/16 inch.
The head of a universal rivet combines the features of the flathead, roundhead, and brazier head. It can be used in many places, including the interior and exterior of aircraft. It can also be used to replace a protruding head rivet.
Back Riveting With a Particular Bucking Bar
Back riveting is securing a rivet to a piece of metal. The bucking bar is a bar that is used for this purpose. The bucking bar is made of hardened material and is available in various shapes. It is used to push a rivet head into place and to prevent the rivet from coming loose.
A bucking bar is an essential tool for aerospace riveting. A good bucking bar can make a riveting process much faster. With the bucking bar, an operator can reach rivets that are hard to reach. The advanced bucking bar is equipped with three levels of vibration reduction. These features can reduce the vibration by 50% and prevent the risk of over-bucking, causing damage to the metal and paint. The bar also has a precision height gauge that ensures the bucktail is the same on every rivet.
