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. 

 

 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. 

 

 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 

 

 

 Common Applications 

 Rivets are often used for: 

 

 Attaching gussets to aluminum extrusion 

 Mounting sheet metal panels 

 Securing lightweight structural brackets 

 Enclosures and protective panels 

 

 

 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. 

 

 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 

 

 

 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 

 

 

 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.