# Why FRC Teams Use Rivets

Rivets are permanent mechanical fasteners commonly used in FRC for joining thin materials such as sheet metal and gussets to structural members.

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</div>## What Is a Rivet?

A rivet is a fastener that permanently joins two or more materials by expanding inside a drilled hole. Once installed, it cannot be removed without drilling it out.

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</div>## Why FRC Teams Use Rivets

FRC teams use rivets because they are:

- Fast to install
- Lightweight compared to bolts and nuts
- Reliable under vibration
- Ideal for thin materials like aluminum sheet and gussets
- Useful in high-density assemblies where space is limited

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</div>## Common Applications

Rivets are often used for:

- Attaching gussets to aluminum extrusion
- Mounting sheet metal panels
- Securing lightweight structural brackets
- Enclosures and protective panels

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</div>## Installation Tool

Rivets are installed using a **hand rivet gun** or pneumatic rivet tool, which pulls the mandrel and expands the rivet body inside the hole.

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</div>## Limitations

- Permanent (must be drilled out to remove)
- Not suitable for joints that require frequent adjustment
- Limited strength compared to bolted joints in high-load areas

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</div>## Best Practice

- Use correct rivet size for the drilled hole
- Ensure materials are tightly clamped before riveting
- Deburr holes before installation
- Avoid using rivets in joints that may need future disassembly

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</div>## Key Idea

Rivets are a fast, lightweight, and vibration-resistant fastening method, making them ideal for sheet metal and non-adjustable structural joints in FRC robots.