Client Background
Railing manufacturer joining rail and post assemblies with rivets
Project Challenge
Riveting was being done with a hand tool against marked positions. Set force varied, rivet positions drifted along the assembly, and there was no record of which joints had been made correctly.
Customer Pain Points
- Rivet position drifting along the assembly
- Set force varying with the tool and the operator
- Joints that looked acceptable but were under set
- Repeated marking and measuring before each joint
- No record tying a joint to a result
Our Solution
What We Built
A CNC riveting machine that indexes the railing assembly to each programmed position and sets the rivet under controlled force. Position comes from a part program and the set is controlled by the machine, so the joint quality no longer depends on how the operator held the tool.
Manufacturing Process
How the Machine Was Built
Joint and rivet study
Rivet type, material stack and required set characteristics reviewed against the customer's assemblies.
Position programming
Rivet positions structured as part programs per product.
Design and build
Machine designed and built at the Vaughan facility.
Set proving
Rivets set on customer assemblies and checked against the agreed reference.
Capability run
Continuous run to confirm consistent set across a batch.
Installation
Installed and handed over with operator and maintenance training.
Supply Chain Coordination
Sourcing and Build
Riveting head, force control and indexing components are selected against the rivet specification and the assembly length. Tooling is treated as a wear item with a change interval based on joint counts.
Quality Control
Checked Before Shipment
- Indexing accuracy measured across the assembly length and recorded
- Rivets set on customer assemblies and checked against the reference
- Set force verified across the working range
- Repeatability confirmed over a continuous batch
- Safety functions verified before shipment
Final Result
What the Machine Does Now
Rivet positions come from the program and the set comes from the machine. The assembly is consistent along its length, and joints can be checked against a known reference rather than by judgement.
Customer Benefit
Why It Mattered
Consistent joints without the marking, measuring and re-clamping that hand riveting a long assembly requires.
Customer identity, assembly specifications and volumes are not published. Technical discussion is available on request.
Photographs
The Machine on the Floor
Related
Equipment Used
CNC Assembly Machines
CNC Guard Rail Assembly Machines
Index and fasten long rail assemblies to a programmed pattern instead of by hand marking
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Sheet Metal Automation
Clinching Machine
Cold forming press that joins sheet metal without heat consumables or surface damage
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Related Reading
Process Guide
Clinching Riveting and Spot Welding Compared
Choosing a sheet metal joining method when the panel is already finished
Read the articleBuying Guide
Why a Sequence of Operation Comes Before the Code
The single document that determines whether a custom machine project goes well
Read the articleQuestions
About This Project
Can you tell us who the customer was?
Customer identity, assembly specifications and volumes are not published. Technical discussion is available on request.
Could you build the same machine for us?
Not identically, and that is the point. The machine was designed around one customer's part, rate and floor space. The same approach applied to your part produces a different machine.
How long did the project take?
Project duration depends on scope and the build schedule at the time. We are happy to give you a realistic schedule for your own requirement once the scope is defined.
What was proved before the machine shipped?
The checks listed in the quality control section of this page, run at the Vaughan facility. Customer witnessed try out before shipment can be arranged.
How do we start a similar project?
Email [email protected] with the part drawing, the operation and the rate. That is enough for a concept and a defined scope.
Talk to an engineer
Have a Similar Operation
Send the part and describe the step. We will tell you what the same approach would look like applied to your line.