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  1. Böllhoff US
  2. Products
  3. Assembly technology
  4. RIVTAC® high-speed joining – automation

High-speed joining

RIVTAC® Automation

The innovative joining technique for all sorts of materials.

RIVTAC® automation when joining a car body

Joining at high speed

Fully automatic joining

Universal material combinations are becoming increasingly important, especially in the development of modern vehicle and car body designs. RIVTAC® is particularly suitable for joining aluminium, steel, plastics and non-ferrous metals as well as for mixed joints, multilayer joints and hybrid joints of these materials.

Plus factors

Advantages of RIVTAC® Automation

  • No pre-punching

    Joining without pre-punching with access from one side only.

  • High flexibility

    Flexible application for mixed joints, multilayer joints and hybrid joints.

  • Reduced process times

    Reduction of joining and cycle times to a minimum.

Method and principle

RIVTAC® technology

This innovative mechanical joining process utilises a tack – a nail-like auxiliary joining part, that is accelerated to a high speed and driven into the non-pre-punched parts. The ogival point of the tack displaces material. The speed, which can be controlled by means of the adjustable joining pressure, is dependent on the materials and component thicknesses. Due to the short-term increase in temperature in the joining zone, the parent material flows into the annular grooves on the shank of the tack. This achieves a high degree of form fit for the joined parts. The pressing and compression of the material – especially in the case of high-strength steel materials – results in a non-positive joint. An important condition for this method is sufficient stiffness of the joining parts so that they can resist the penetration impulse of the tack without major deformation.

RIVTAC®
high-speed joining – sequence
RIVTAC® joining sequence: 1st Positioning / 2 Insertion / 3 Penetration / 4 Bracing
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Modular and flexible

Components of the system

The RIVTAC® Automation system enables fully automatic joining. It is designed for high volume applications and provides maximum flexibility in production planning.

  • Setting tool

    Features

    • Compact design for ideal joining point accessibility
    • Spiral feed magazines store up to 47 tacks
    • Limit position and position sensing
    • Real-time data processing
    • RFID chip to store all tool and process-relevant parameters
  • Loading station

    Features

    • With a max. loading capacity of 35,000 tacks
    • Faster reloading of the joining tool
    • Simultaneous loading of two joining tools – Twin version
    • Gimbal-mounted feed rail
    • Built-in compressed air service unit with air filter and pressure control sensor
    • RFID receiver for forwarding tool and process-relevant parameters to the control
  • Valve unit

    Features

    • Fast response times due to short strokes
    • Proportional valves continuously regulate joining and feed pressure
    • Energy-optimised control of the joining tool
    • Capable of being integrated on the third robot axis
  • Power unit

    Features

    • Local hardware configuration with central controlling of machine components by BUS-system
    • Embedded PC-based control for the connection of a visualisation system
    • Multiple interface platforms (ProfiNet, Interbus, Profibus etc.)
    • Excellent space utilisation due to the integration onto the robot power unit
    • Air conditioning available

    Twin version also available.

  • Visualisation (optional)

    Features

    • Easy operation with an industrial touch screen
    • Equipped for communication via EtherCAT
    • Multi visualisation of several RIVTAC® systems
    • Joining and process parameter management
    • Process monitoring visualisation
    • Media docking possible (USB port)

    Customer-specific adaptations of the visualisation also available.

  • Software (optional)

    Features

    • PLC and HMI software for control and visualisation via Ethernet
    • Calibration functions such as basic calibration, in-process calibration and referencing
    • Parameterisation of the individual joining points on the component
    • Process monitoring module with displacement transducer and windowing incl. statistics function
    • Process data transfer to a superordinate quality management system
    • Mobile link – proactive maintenance management incl. maintenance indication and machine logbook
    • Wear detection for selected components
    • Easy-to-use with display of help texts

Information and more

Downloads

Are you interested in RIVTAC® Automation? Please download further information here.

More information

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