Nonthreaded fasteners: General Industry Coverage

Last month’s column focused on threaded fastening methods. This month, we explore nonthreaded fasteners, the most common of which are solid and blind rivets. In addition, a variety of nonthread pins are used for fastening.

• Solid rivets are available in steel, copper, aluminum, brass and stainless steel in various sizes and shapes. They are inexpensive and easy to install with simple tools. Properly applied, solid rivets are strong, provide a finished appearance and resist vibration. In critical aerospace applications, rivet holes are drilled and reamed to size so stresses are evenly distributed.

• Blind rivets are for applications where there is access to only one side of the part. They are available in a range of styles, sizes and materials, including steel, aluminum and stainless steel. Blind rivets are strong and resist vibration and tampering. They draw together the layers of materials being fastened as the rivets are pulled up. Installation requires an inexpensive special tool. Both manual and air-actuated blind rivet pullers are available.

Courtesy of Pamela J. Tallman

The blind rivet joining process.

A blind rivet consists of two parts: the rivet body and the setting mandrel, which is inside the rivet body. The following describes how they work.

1. The rivet body is inserted into a predrilled hole through the materials to be joined.

2. The rivet insertion tool is actuated and the jaws of the manual or power- operated riveting tool firmly grip the rivet mandrel.