CNC riveting is a CNC process used for obtaining permanent mechanical fastening of geometrical shapes ranging from a simple to complex shape like fuselage of an aircraft. This is done in a shorter duration of time with a high riveting rate. The process is fast robust and is flexible in nature thus improving its usage and providing reliability to the riveted joint along with the final product quality.CNC riveting can be used for a variety of operations ranging from riveting and fastening the belts, skin panels, shear ties, and other internal fuselage component.
Contents
- CNC riveting machine variants
- CNC duct riveting cell
- CNC riveting machines with stationary machine table
- CNC riveting machines with Indexing Tables
- CNC riveting machines with transfer system
- Multiple axes CNC riveting cell
- Advantages
- References
The CNC Riveting machines generally consists of a solid frame made by welding steel and protective aluminium frames used for protection fitted with polycarbonate panes.The dynamic drive of the coordinates axes is achieved via recirculating ball and screw,servo motors and motion control units makes the high speed movement possible.For the mounting of the riveting units solid C Frames are used. The riveting program can be given various parameters and these can be changed or altered as desired being cnc programs as per the requirement.
CNC riveting machine variants
CNC riveting machines has many variants.
CNC duct riveting cell
A CNC controlled automatic riveting work cell with a knee type design drill machine has sixty inch throat depth with four position upper head. this machine can apply sixteen pounds of upset force. This machine is equipped with a dual drill spindles,one for carrying out drilling and other for deburring. it was essentially developed for fabrication of tubular assemblies which are fed into the throat of the machine over an eight-inch square lower knee.The CNC controlled four axis positioning system presents the part to the machine for carrying out the riveting.
CNC riveting machines with stationary machine table
These CNC machines act as stand alone workstations for heavy and bigger workpieces. they are simple in design and require work holding fixtures only. thus the clamping and component query devices do not cost much.
CNC riveting machines with Indexing Tables
These special purpose CNC riveting machines with different sizes of indexing tables can be composed of different coordinate axes and riveting machines.These machines have different versions for the particular application and are configured accordingly.their frame is made of steel and protective shells and frames are made of aluminium fitted with polycarbonate panes aiding in visibility of riveting operation.the coordinate system is with linear units and recirculating ball screws, index table is electrically operated rotary indexing table with brake motor.It has two or four fixed indexing stations, the index table are NC flexible rotary indexing tables which are actuated by two hand control or by a pedal switch. The machine has an automatic tool changer.
CNC riveting machines with transfer system
These CNC riveting machines are made for the use in manufacturing lines.The fixtures are coded and interfaces are customized to make the connection of several CNC riveting machines and linking them with other manufacturing systems making it possible to obtaining a high degree of automation.
Multiple axes CNC riveting cell
This is the latest technological development in automated fastening.This technology is versatile and can be used for riveting of high curvature fuselage panels to low curvature wing panels,bulkheads,floor etc. The tooling changeover is minimized thus part throughput is maximized.
Advantages
The main advantages of this type of CNC riveting machine is that it can use a minimum distance between rivets and rivets of different length or heights can be used .High flexibility and changeover time due to programmable memory.It can process many workpieces and different rivets can be used in one operation.Picking and placing operations are done in parallel with the primary operation time thus saving cost.Ergonomics of work station.Menu based navigation makes the programming lucid. High acceleration rate with high positioning accuracy. The movement speed is up to 400 mm/s