[ARC5] Rivets

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

To add to Mike's description of the setting tool, it also looks like the 
result of a more or less spherical object impacting a solid surface that is 
much more massive (greater than 1:10^6 ratio or so) than the sphere at a 
velocity of at least several miles per second anywhere from a few miliseconds to 
a few million years after impact.  Basically a ring-wall crater with a peak 
in the middle.  The hand setting tools are probably still available but a 
decade ago when I bought my set they ran around $45 for each size.  I just 
checked and McMaster doesn't seem to carry them anymore.

The rivet type is called "semi-tubular", meaning that it's hollow but not 
all the way to the head.  Typically about one diameter deep.  McMaster does 
list some semi-tubular rivets but the smallest I found were 9/64" diameter.  
I think the ones A.R.C. used on nameplates were probably 3/32" diameter.

In a message dated 12/26/2010 10:53:38 PM Central Standard Time, 
kgordon2006 at frontier.com writes: 
> On 26 Dec 2010 at 23:11, Mike Hanz wrote:
> 
> >On 12/26/2010 10:50 PM, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
> >>Is it possible to reproduce the riveting that was used to hold the
> >>nomenclature plates on the top of the ARC-5 receivers?
> >
> >Of course!  All you need is a lathe with a radius attachment and some 
> >aluminum rod.  http://aafradio.org/garajmahal/radius_tool.htm shows that 
> >part of it.  The more difficult part is setting the rivet once you have 
> >it made.  It requires a setting tool with a profile that I would 
> >describe as a high speed photo of a water drop crater...basically an 
> >annular ring the forms the tail of the hollow rivet stem over into a 
> >neat ring during compression.  You can approximate it with center 
> >punches with several different angles, but the right tool is a lot 
> >easier to use and makes a factory looking finish on the rivet.
> 
> Oh, dang! :-(
> 
> No lathe, although I HAVE used one often. Hmmm....I'll bet I 
> could use one out at the University of Idaho shop....
> 
> Thanks, Mike. I may give that a shot.
> 
> Ken W7EKB
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480