Air Hydraulic Rivet Nut Installation Tool

The handheld setting tool works according to the spin-pull principle. The blind rivet nut is turned by hand one to two thread turns onto the pulling mandrel. After spinning, the setting process can be started with the trigger. The blind rivet nut is caulked in the component via a pull stroke. At the end of the setting process, the mandrel thread spins out again. The return stroke or spin-out process is initiated automatically.

The joining position can only be accessible from one side for the setting process, such as in a closed profile.

The machined part must be prepared for the installation of the blind rivet nut, have an appropriate pilot hole and be easily accessible to the operator.

Supply connections

1. Pneumatic connection of the handheld tool 
2. Power supply of the hand-held tool 
3. Control line (sensor system) from controller to pressure amplifier unit 
4. Supply line (control, voltage, pneumatics and hydraulics) from the pressure amplifier unit to the hand-held tool

Handheld setting tool

The hand tool is designed in such a way that the movements during operation only take place at the setting head. The handle is secured against slipping by preformed grips.

Pressure amplifier unit

The pressure amplifier unit contains an analog displacement sensor (8) and a pressure amplifier (9). The pressure amplifier unit and the hand tool are supplied pneumatically via a compressed air connection.

Controller module

The assembly system is controlled via a 10-inch operating panel with touchscreen. Up to four hand tools can be connected to one controller (10). The display can be split into four windows for simultaneous use of four hand tools.

Working with the controller module

Each individual hand tool has a counting mechanism that monitors the number of blind rivet nuts to be set per component. When all blind rivet nuts have been successfully set in the component, the air of the setting tool is shut off to signal to the operator that the setting process for the component is complete. Only when a component replacement is triggered by a button on the controller module will the counter be reset and air be applied to the tool.

If a "Not OK" (NOK) evaluation is obtained during the setting process, the air is immediately removed from the setting tool to draw the operator's attention to the NOK result. The setting process can only be continued by pressing the "Next" button.

Coupling multiple setting tools

Setting tools can be linked by using the same process number. This means that these setting tools process the same component. Switching to a new component is possible when the tools have completed their setting process equally successfully.

Process evaluation

During each setting process, a force-displacement curve (1) is recorded using integrated sensors and displacement measurement systems. This represents the time course of the joining process: X-axis deformation in mm and Y-axis deformation force in N. Monitoring windows (2) can be used to qualitatively evaluate such force-displacement curves. If the curve is outside the defined window, it is declared as NOK.

Interface for external control / control software

An interface allows an external controller to control the assembly system instead of using the buttons on the operating panel. Therefore, control bits equivalent to the buttons on the panel are also available on this interface.