FLOWDRILL VS RIVNUTS

Flowdrill and Rivnuts are two essential methods that are pivotal for joining of various metal plates. They are used widely across industries. We break down both the processes and discuss the key advantages of Flowdrill as compared to Rivnuts.

Flowdrill Explained

Flowdrill is a particular type of frictional drilling service. The Flowdrill tool can easily displace material to form increased material thickness. The process is beneficial in situations where there is a requirement for a thread in a thin material while avoiding the use of thread inserts. With this particular process, there is no loss of material as the additional material that is drilled out forms a sleeve around the hole. This makes the sleeve length up to three times the original thickness and helps fortify the hole further.

Rivnuts Explained

Rivnuts also known as Rivet Nuts are permanent mechanical fasteners that consist of smooth cylindrical shafts with a head on one end. The end opposite to the head is called the tail area of the rivnut. Rivnuts are used to join two metal plates together; forming a robust joint similar to welded joints.

Advantages of Flowdrill Over Rivnuts

The process of Flowdrilling has several benefits over Rivnuts. Here are the top benefits of using Flowdrill as compared to Rivnuts:

Flowdrill Is More Cost-Effective as Compared to Rivnuts

The Flowdrill tool can be used up to ten thousand times to make connections. This results in 85% of cost-saving as compared to the Rivnut method. The connection formed by Flowdrill uses the parent material, hence reducing the need for adding in additional fixings. This also reduces the risk of the connection running loose in various environmental conditions. That can be a risk factor as the Rivnut is usually built with dissimilar metals as the plates.

Sturdier Connection as Compared to Rivnuts

Since Rivnuts are independent fixtures that may use dissimilar materials as compared to the metal plates, they could be affected by various environmental conditions like heat and cold. This can loosen such fixings and may result in rework. Rivnuts can also be dangerous when used in specific industries as they can cause major accidents. Flowdrilling, on the other hand, remains unaffected by the change in atmospheric conditions as it uses the same metal as the plates being attached together, making it a more reliable option.

No Loss of Material While Using Flowdrill

The process of Flowdrilling produces no wastage. The excess material that is used to drill holes is used by the drill to form a cap around the hole. The process creates a bush around the hole, making it two to three times thicker and more robust.

Many Connections with One Tool

Flowdrill can drill through most materials, making it a beneficial process. It can be used to drill through most standard threads from M2 to M20 and through thick materials ranging from 1.0mm to 10mm steel. In some instances, the Flowdrill hole can be converted into a nutsert. This can be done by providing the right materials and can be instrumental in reducing manufacturing costs further. Based on your needs, you can easily customise the Flowdrill styles of hole finishes to suit your needs best.

Flowdrill Is a Time-Saving Process

The entire process of Flowdrilling is time-saving as compared to Rivnuts. The process takes about 6 seconds for completion resulting in about 40% of time-saving as compared to other methods like Rivnuts or welding.

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