Riveting developments from Atlas Copco
Riveting developments from Atlas Copco
Keywords Aircraft, Atlas Copco, Fasteners,Rivets
In spite of developments in other fastening methods, riveting remains the leading technology for aircraft assembly and other lightweight constructions where high strength sheet metal is not weldable.
Riveting claims to offer a lower cost solution because installation is said to be faster, there is a lower requirement for hole preparation, and higher productivity is possible. High strength and reliability, light weight, fatigue resistance and good elasticity contributing to durability are other reasons claimed for the enduring popularity of riveting.
However, working with conventional riveting hammers (and other percussive tools) for long periods of time can lead to vascular, nerve, skeletal and joint injuries as a result of the high vibration levels present.
To help overcome these problems, Atlas Copco has developed vibration-damped riveting which uses an air servo system, installed between the handle and the vibrating parts of the tool,to control and limit the level of vibration arising from the riveting operation.
The air servo system acts like a stiff spring for slow variation in forces, making the riveting process easier to control while, for forces which vary quickly such as vibration it acts like a soft spring to provide efficient damping.
"One of the most common work-related injuries through the use of industrial power tools is White Finger,which is connected directly to high vibration levels, such as those arising from percussive tool usage", said Joanne Harris of Atlas Copco. "There are two ways to reduce the risk of injuries one is to reduce the exposure of the operator, the other is to reduce the magnitude of the vibration. The development of the vibration-damped riveting system is an example of successful ergonomic product design which has been proven to help solve vibration problems."
For more information on Atlas Copco vibration-damped riveting hammers and a copy of the 36-page Atlas Copco book, Pocket Guide to Riveting Technique, contact the company on UK Freephone 0800 73 1 2542.
