Solid rivetĪ solid rivet (Figure 3 labeled A) consists of a solid shaft with a head at one end. Here are some of the different kinds of rivets and how they work. Different types of rivetsĪ large variety of rivets is available due to the many different materials that need joining. But, contrary to welded connections, rivets resist vibrations and secure joints better.įigure 2: Using a rivet gun for riveting aluminum parts together. Rivets are designed for permanent joints similar to welding or structural adhesives. The rivet shaft prevents any radial movements. The permanently formed heads at both ends prevent the rivet from detaching from the drilled hole.

The original head of the rivet is called the ‘factory head,’ and the deformed end is called the ‘buck-tail.’Ī rivet can support tension on each end of the structure. The deformation smashes the tail, making it flatter, resulting in a dumbbell-shaped rivet. The tail then expands to around 1.5 times the original diameter of the shaft, holding the rivet in place between both materials. The tail is then upset or bucked (deformed) by mechanical force using a hammer or rivet gun. The rivet is inserted between both holes. How do rivets work?įirst, a hole is drilled or punched in the materials to be connected. The mandrel allows the riveter to deform the tail of the rivet without striking it directly.

The shafts are hollow with another internal piece called a mandrel. Rivets are used to join large structural pieces and small electronic assemblies. The tapered end of the shaft is called the rivet’s tail. A rivet consists of a head at one end and a cylindrical body at the other end, called its shaft. View our online selection of pneumatic rivet guns!Ī rivet is a popular mechanical fastener to join two or more materials.

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