Fatigue Technology is at ILA highlighting its ForceTec Lite rivetless nut plate technology. ForceTec provides some major advantages over fastenings, it is a simple one step installation which can be integrated with fully automated production processes.
“This technology can save 26h of labour when used to manufacture all of the under wing manhole covers of a typical single aisle airliner,” explains Christian Groever, sales manager Germany.
“We are keen to highlight this technology at ILA and we are adapting this technology for carbon fibre. The key to this system is that it [the nutplate] expands to fill the hole completely. There is zero air in there, it is totally sealed.
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| Christian Groever – saving time with rivetless technology |
“And with the future being black – this is what carbon fibre is – this system also helps protect from lighting strikes,” he says. “Because it expands into the fibre mesh there is no gap for the electrical current to spark across and helps protect and discharge the current.”
The AIM (Accelerated Installation Method) speeds up installation and makes the automation possible. The mandrel is aligned into the hole and then the puller unit expands out and seals the nut plate in without heating.
Fatigue Technology has tested the system for extreme abuse and sealing tests. Testing was based a 0.25in diameter nut plate and was put under the stress of pressure leak tests and vibration tests, as well as others.
For the cyclic pressure leak test the system underwent 1000 cycles at 50-55psi, while the vibration test was done in accordance NASM1312-7 and consisted of 30,000 cycles at 0.45in amplitude/30Hz.
ForceTec Lite is best suited for applications with aluminium structures (at present), fuel or fluid sealing situations, Class 2 or 3 bolt clearance, fatigue or damage critical, weight reduction and high annual nut plate usage.
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Source: Flight Daily News