PMD
Well-Known Member
Watching the whole Van's laser thing happening reminded me of a thought train I had when building aluminum boats. Most of my stuff was welded, but my chine keels were a 1/8" 5052 weldment riveted to the floor and gunwhale skins by countersunk rivets in machined counterbores. Everything in contact with water was either flush riveted or welded for obvious reasons. I looked at possibly doing some riveted pieces in 0.040 5052 but me worry was stress and hole distortion from dimpling. What I thought would be workable (remember: production so jiggs and fittings just part of the whole deal) was to make a dimpling tool and press each joint BEFORE drilling, they do the holes from a drill jig overlay. Still would want to dismount and deburr but what does the E/AB community think about the whole business of stretching the holes from post-dimpling vs. pre-dimpling>>>????
BTW: if you want to give a riveted joint the ultimate torture test, make some just below the waterline near or in the bow of a boat.
BTW: if you want to give a riveted joint the ultimate torture test, make some just below the waterline near or in the bow of a boat.
