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Chances are, you will find fasteners used to assemble products in every factory. Nuts, bolts, anchors, lockbolts, and other industrial fasteners are essential to manufacturing everything from computers to airplanes.
Production lines that use precision manual processes tend to be slow and require workers to set and inspect fasteners one at a time. Automating the process saves time, labor, and money. However, to automate production, you need speed fasteners that shorten assembly time while ensuring consistent quality.
The Benefits of Speed Fasteners
Speed fasteners are an improvement over manual blind fasteners. Rather than loading each blind rivet manually, speed fasteners simplify the process by automatically loading each rivet to shorten production time to 1-2 seconds per rivet. They’re ideal for operations where you must set the same fastener multiple times during assembly. Speed fastening can set rivets as fast as the operator can work.
Speed fastening systems offer benefits in addition to shortening production time. They eliminate much of the tedium that results from repetitive installations. Speed fasteners also provide a consistent installation, which improves quality.
Most speed fastener systems can set up to 60 blind rivets per minute. They’re ideal for lighting systems, electronic subassemblies, appliances, and light metal assembly applications, such as truck trailers and railcars. If you need to set 10 or more fasteners at once, consider adopting automated fastening to increase output and shorten production time.
Choosing the Right Speed Fastener
When choosing the right speed fastener for a job, you must select the right combination of rivets, mandrels, nose equipment, and tools.
Speed fasteners have the same basic configuration as any blind rivet, but there are some differences because they’re designed for high-speed assembly. Speed fasteners are designed to exact lengths so there is no breakstem, which means no excess metal to collect or litter the factory floor.
Fasteners for high-speed assembly are available in stainless steel, aluminum, and brass. They have different types of heads for various applications and finishes. The three most common are domed heads, low-profile heads, and countersunk heads. You may also need specialty heads, such as a wider head for softer materials.
Other factors to consider include whether the rivet must be removed for replacement or repair, or whether a threaded standoff is required. Also, consider whether a high clamp or wide grip may be necessary.
Avdel Leads in Speed Fasteners
STANLEY® Engineered Fastening is one of the biggest manufacturers of speed fasteners. The company’s Avdel® line consists of nine different types of speed fasteners:
Avlug®
The Avlug is designed for solderable terminal posts in printed circuit boards (PCBs). It’s made of electro-tin-plated brass with a domed head.
Avsert®
Also designed for PCBs, the Avsert is a standoff pillar with a threaded bore made of tin-plated brass. It is designed for connectors, heat sinks, and similar uses.
Avtronic®
The Avtronic, explicitly designed for PCBs, comes in electro-tin-plated brass or aluminum alloy and has grooves that expand when installed to secure it in place.
Briv®
The Briv is a high-shear, high-clamp fastener with a bulbed tail for softer materials. It’s available in aluminum alloy, stainless steel, steel, brass, or tin-plated brass with dome or countersunk heads.
Chobert®
The Chobert features a controlled clamp for a consistent light clamp for soft and brittle materials. It’s typically used with electronics and injection-molded components and comes in aluminum alloy, steel, brass, nickel-plated brass, or tin-plated brass.
Double Flush Chobert®
This speed fastener is similar to the Chobert but offers a flush finish on both sides of the joint.
Grovit®
The Grovit is designed for blind hole applications and has grooves that expand when installed for a solid joint that resists vibration. The Grovit is available in steel or aluminum alloy and can be used with wood, fiberglass, plastics, and soft materials.
Neospeed®
Available in aluminum, stainless steel, or steel, the Neospeed is a wide-grip fastener that can replace standard grip fasteners. It’s available in sizes from 1/8 to 3/16 inches and is used in automotive manufacturing, electronics, electrical equipment, light fabrication, and more.
Rivscrew®
The Rivscrew is a removable threaded fastener for quick installation, but it can be removed like any screw. It is commonly used for die-cast boxes, circuit components, and chassis assemblies that use nylon, plastics, or soft materials.
Use the Right Installation Tools
You need to match the tool to the job and the speed fastener. When choosing speed fastening tools, look for tools that ensure smooth, trouble-free installation. Choose a tool that shortens installation time, maximizes performance, and enables cost-effective production.
Look for speed fastener tools that are reliable at higher speeds. Determine if the tool is simple for single-side assembly and will help cut production time to two seconds or less. You also want a tool that is easy to load.
Matching tools to speed fasteners also minimizes maintenance costs and makes it easier to scale production. You have different power tools, including handheld pneumatic tools with different power specifications and configurations. Be sure to consider the tool's ease of use and weight when shopping. You might also consider a production workstation for component assembly.
Production line automation will save time and money, but choosing the right speed fastening system requires careful consideration. You want to choose fasteners and tools that will deliver a high-quality product and a speed fastener system that promises versatility and longevity.
To learn more about your speed fastener options, read The Essential Guide to Speed Fastening Systems.
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