Like many other machine shops, API/AMS has more tools and equipment than you can shake a stick at. But unlike other machine shops in Portland and the Portland metro area, we’re committed to using the most advanced and high performing equipment. More than that, we’re committed to explaining just what we’re using and how this advanced equipment benefits our customers.
This brings us to riveting machines. Possibly the most elegant (in the chemist’s sense of the word) of forming tools, the riveting machine is capable of fastening two objects with a level of coherence barely short of welding. At API/AMS, we use top quality riveting machines when we partner with a variety of industries– like auto or green energy industries— to make top quality machined products.
But what is a riveting machine exactly?
For our many clients, who possibly do not work at a machine shop and are less familiar with its tools, here is a brief explanation of how riveting machines work.
There are several different types of riveting machines, but each can be separated into one of two categories: impact riveting machines, or orbital riveting machines.
The impact riveting machine
This machine drives the rivet down and through the metals intended to be joined, squashing it onto a forming tool called a rollset. The force used to drive the rivet also creates a flare at the end of the rivet where it meets the rollset, thereby joining the two materials together. This type of riveting machine is extremely fast.
The orbital riveting machine
In contrast to its impactful cousin, an orbital riveting machine uses a peen, which is a rapidly spinning tool, to actually change the shape of the rivet itself by spreading the metal out in the shape of the peen. This type of riveting takes much longer than impact riveting, but it lasts longer as well. It also requires less force, which allows orbital riveting to be used with many different types of materials, such as brittle materials which would otherwise shatter if riveted via an impact riveting machine.
The radial or spiralform riveting machine
These machines are a slightly different take on orbital forming. In radial or spiralform riveting, the rivet head is lightly hammered into the desired shape, whereas in orbital riveting the rivet head is spread in one contact motion, continuously. In general, orbital forming is preferable, but spiralform is used when small sized rivets are concerned.
And finally, the rollerforming riveting machine
Rollerforming is another subset of orbital riveting. In this case, the riveting machine uses wheels (rollers) instead of a peen, circling the workpiece and bonding the two materials together via downward pressure exerted as the rollers move downward or into the piece.
API/AMS is your Portland source for fine machining
There is a wide range of applications for riveting, and if your industry requires API/AMS to utilize riveting in the formation of your product, you can be sure that our machine shop in Portland, Oregon will provide the highest level of performance. Please call us today to find out what API/AMS can do for you.