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There is no doubt that proper connections will improve the safety and productivity of your automotive project. If you choose the right spr rivet, your project will be a success.
However, many engineers don’t know much about spr rivet. Don’t know the history of spr rivet, how spr rivet is made, and what are self piercing rivets made of.
Don’t worry, this article will tell you all the answers. Let’s get started!
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What is the History of Self Piercing Rivets?
The history of Self Piercing Rivets (SPR Rivet) dates back to the mid-twentieth century, originating from the needs and technological developments of the automotive manufacturing industry.
The concept of SPR Rivets first appeared in the 1950s and 1960s. At the time, automotive manufacturers were challenged with the need for more efficient and robust joining methods. While traditional rivet connections required pre-drilling, SPR rivets offered a faster, easier solution. In the 1970s, SPR rivets began to be widely used in automotive manufacturing. Automakers realised the advantages of SPR rivets, such as strength, rigidity and lightweight design, and used them to join body structures, doors, roofs and other key components.
In the 1990s, the use of SPR rivets expanded further as the automotive industry’s need for lightweight designs increased. Aluminium alloys became a more common material choice to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency, and SPR rivets played an important role in joining aluminium alloy body structures. At the beginning of the 21st century, the technology and application of SPR rivets matured. Automotive manufacturers and suppliers continue to improve the design and performance of SPR rivets to meet more stringent safety standards and quality requirements.
Today, SPR rivets have become one of the commonly used joining methods in automotive manufacturing. They are widely used in the body, chassis, doors, roof, suspension and other critical parts of the car. The importance of SPR rivets in modern automotive manufacturing continues to grow as the demand for lightweight, high strength and multi-material connections continues to grow.
What Are SPR Rivets?
The Self Piercing Rivet (SPR) is a mechanical joint used to join materials. It is a specially designed rivet that can directly penetrate and join a wide range of materials without pre-punched holes.
Self piercing rivets can be inserted into the material to be joined by applying pressure. It can be perforated as it passes through the first material and then forms a diffused flat shape in the second material to securely join the two materials.
SPR rivets can be used in a wide range of automotive manufacturing applications, and there are a number of advantages to them. These include no need for pre-punched holes, high strength connections, excellent resistance to vibration and fatigue, and suitability for joining different types and thicknesses of materials.
What Are Self Piercing Rivets Made of?
The Self piercing rivet was originally designed to allow the joining of thin plates without the need for drilling. Aluminium and carbon steel have good penetration ability and can effectively penetrate and join different materials. Therefore SPR Rivet is usually produced from aluminium and carbon steel as raw materials.
Aluminium SPR rivet is a very lightweight connecting rivet, so in the automotive and aerospace industries, the use of aluminium SPR Rivet can keep the overall weight of the component relatively low. Furthermore, aluminium is naturally corrosion resistant and resists environmental factors such as moisture and chemicals very well.
Compared to other materials, aluminium and carbon steel are relatively affordable, making them economical choices for mass production applications.
What Material are Self Piercing Rivets Used On?
Self-Piercing Rivets (SPR) are often used to join a wide range of materials, especially in automotive manufacturing and other industrial applications. Below are some common material suitability combinations:
1. steel to steel: SPR rivets can be used to join different types of steel, such as high-strength steel, carbon steel and so on.
2. Steel to Aluminium: SPR rivets are widely used to join steel and aluminium materials, which is very important for lightweight design in automotive manufacturing.
3. aluminium to aluminium: SPR rivets are also commonly used to join aluminium materials, for example in aerospace and shipbuilding.
4. Alloy Materials: In addition to steel and aluminium, SPR rivets can also be used to join other alloy materials such as magnesium alloys and copper alloys.
Due to the design and characteristics of self piercing rivets, they are able to securely join materials together without the use of pre-punched holes. This makes them ideal for joining different materials, providing a strong, reliable joint that can cope with variations in material thickness.
How are Self Piercing Rivets Made?
The video above shows the general process of producing a spr rivet in our spr factory. To produce a qualified self piercing rivets, the following steps are generally followed:
- Choose the material of the spr rivet that is right for your project. spr rivet bodies are usually made of high strength steel or aluminium alloys.
- The rivet body is formed through a process of cold heading or cold forming. In this process, the selected material is fed into a machine and pressure is applied to form it into the desired cylindrical or conical shape.
- Producing the head of the rivet. The head of the rivet may be shaped into the desired form by cold heading or other forming processes.
- The rivet chip needs to be manufactured separately from the body of the rivet. The material is usually made to the desired diameter and length by drawing or other processes.
- The rivet chip is inserted into the hollow body of the rivet. The rivet chip extends out of the rivet body and acts as a perforation during rivet installation.
- To increase corrosion resistance and improve appearance, the finished self-drilling rivet may be given a surface treatment such as plating, coating or anodising.
Where Are Self Piercing Rivets Used?
Self piercing rivet (SPR Rivet) is widely used in many fields and applications. Below I will detail some of the specific scenarios in which SPR Rivet is used in automotive manufacturing as an example.
Automotive Body Connections
Auto body connections are an important part of automotive manufacturing. It is related to the safety of the car during operation.SPR rivets are widely used for joining body structure parts such as body frames, doors, bonnets and boot lids.
So why do automotive body joints use spr rivet for this process? There are several main reasons:
- The spr rivet has the ability to join multiple materials. In modern automotive manufacturing, multiple materials such as steel, aluminium and composites are often used. spr rivet is ideally suited to achieving lightweight designs and optimising the body structure.
- Vehicles generate vibrations, shocks and a variety of loads during driving. spr rivet provides a uniform distribution of joining forces, creating a strong connection.
- SPR rivet does not require pre-punched holes.
- SPR Rivet provides excellent sealing properties. Car bodies have high demands on water, dust, noise and air leakage protection, SPR Rivet can solve this problem.
Automotive Structural Connections
There are a variety of structural components in automobiles, including automotive suspension components, chassis components, and measurements. All of these components are connected using a spr rivet.
These automotive structural components are subjected to varying loads and vibrations over a long period of time, and therefore require connecting fasteners that are fatigue resistant and durable; SPR Rivet provides superior connecting durability!
Car Roof and Body Cap Connection
SPR rivets are also used in the connection of larger body parts such as roofs and lids of automobiles.
Larger body parts need to evenly distribute the connection force, in order to ensure the stability and flatness of the whole part. SPR rivets can provide even distribution of the connection force, so that the force between the joints is balanced, avoiding the problem of excessive local stress or deformation. It can also ensure the structural stability of the body parts and the aesthetics and quality of the vehicle appearance.
Automobile Compartment Assembly
Car seats, seatbelt carriers, dashboards and interior trims serve as important components in the interior of a car. If a vehicle is involved in an accident, these components will come into direct contact with the driver. So they need to be strong and safe enough to better protect the driver.
As these components are key decorative components in the vehicle, they require a certain level of quality and aesthetics, and SPR rivet creates smaller bumps and depressions in the joints and fewer assembly marks, resulting in a flatter and more aesthetically pleasing interior.
To learn more about automotive self piercing rivets, you can check out this post of mine. I believe it can help you!
Conclusion
Hopefully, with our detailed guide, you’ll choose the right spr rivet for a secure connection to your car project.
We also discuss how the spr rivet is produced, what materials are available to make it and where it is used. This guide will answer the vast majority of your questions about spr rivet!
Rivmate is The Perfect Partner for Your Automotive Project!
Even if you have the best automotive designs and solutions, success is unlikely with substandard SPR Rivet.
Thankfully, The SPR Rivets of Rivmate are manufactured in China at one of the top rivet factories in the country. Our industry-leading experts ensure that every product meets the highest international standards and deliver quality products to your doorstep.
In addition, you can choose from our comprehensive catalogue of rivets such as speed rivet, pop rivet, rivet nut, self clinching fastener, structural rivet and lockbolt rivet.
We offer customised rivet products to our global customers so that they get the best value for their money.
Our 24/7 customer representatives are always available to help you make better decisions and guide you through the process. You can also get a free estimate for your project. What are you waiting for? Get a quote today!