A rivet allows you to fix or secure something.
Rivet is the process and result of riveting (hitting the head of a nail to affirm it or, in a symbolic sense, highlight what is expressed). A rivet is also a type of pin or nail that is used to fix something.
Rivets or bolts , therefore, are fixing instruments that enable the union of two or more elements. Its structure is made up of a stem and a head , with a larger diameter than the rest of the rivet. To use it, insert the stem into what you want to fix; The head, due to its size, will allow the union to be achieved.
Uses of a rivet
A rivet allows you to link elements made of different materials in a simple and economical way. The union that is forged through rivets is permanent : it cannot be dismantled. The case is different with screws, which, on the other hand, usually offer greater resistance .
Although this is a fairly secure fastening mechanism, rivets can fail when crushed or broken . In these cases, the bond between the fixed elements will be broken since the rivet cannot fulfill its function.
The advantages of using rivet as a joining system are that, in addition to being an economical proposal as we have already mentioned, it allows joining pieces of different materials, which can be carried out when only one of their faces is visible or when You can attack with two or more pieces. All of this without overlooking the fact that it can be done in very different ways and using a wide variety of different materials, according to the needs of each moment.
Rivets are used in different areas.
Classification according to type
Specifically, we can establish that among the different types of rivets there are compression ones and blind ones. The latter, in turn, are divided into threaded, expanded, with stretching mandrel, with guided pin...
In addition, there are specific rivets such as open rivets with stem breakage, clover type, slotted, high resistance, T-expandable and high retention rivets.
Disadvantages of rivets
It should also not be overlooked that rivets also have their detractors. They reject the use of this union mechanism for the following reasons:
- The union that is achieved cannot be dismantled, which makes it difficult and even prevents its correct maintenance and cleaning.
- It is not a good alternative when working with pieces that have a more than notable thickness.
- As we have mentioned previously, it is also established that the resistance is lower than if the same union were carried out with other alternative procedures or systems.
The term in colloquial language
In colloquial language, the term rivet is used with reference to underlining or emphasizing something .
“Grandfather reiterated his slogans against concubinage and relationships that are not formalized”, “The writer ended the speech with his traditional emphasis on the importance of education”y “Stop hammering home the same thing: I'm tired of hearing you say those things over and over again.”son expresiones que muestran este uso.