CLECO PINS, CLAMPS AND PLIERS

These very useful tools and pins are worth having in your toolbox. All used in aircraft manufacturing where aluminium skins have to be riveted to a frame and the panel is trial fitted.

Initially there are no rivets but the two components are held with a skin pin in the rivet hole. All the rivet holes are drilled and filled with skin pins. When complete the panel can be removed and de-burred and then re-assembled and rivets fitted.

The pins are very useful for attaching any bracket, NACA or air duct temporarily while setting alignment.

This example with the angle below shows how to make a dummy assembly. The holes in the angle are pre-drilled, one hole drilled in the plate and the angle can be skin-pinned (shown here using the Cleco Pliers and Cleco Pin Clamps) on the plate and the other holes drilled to match. The assembly can then be disassembled and de-burred before final riveting.

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The photos below of the black duct shows how to hold a piece in place and fit in the best location. When the trial fit is correct the rivet holes can be drilled in the duct. After the first hole is made it can be located with a skin pin and the others can follow. Photos show this assembly being carried out using Cleco Pliers, Cleco Side Grip Clamp and Cleco Pin Clamps (Skin pins).

The final example below shows how the skin pins can be used if you have several Dzus fasteners to fit. It is worth first making a template like the black plate shown below with 5 holes. The centre hole is where you want the pin on the Dzus to fit and is drilled first in both the top skin and the bracket at the same time.

At the start of the job you would have adjusted the panel fit and used skin pins to temporally fit the panel in place. It is likely that you will have drilled the skin pin holes where you want the pin of the Dzus to be fitted.

The problem then is to drill accurately the 4 holes for the Dzus, 2 for the pin and 2 for the spring. Using the 5 hole template helps. A skin pin through the centre hole allows you to align and drill the 2 holes for the Dzus and plate. Remove the panel and transfer the template to the panel or bracket underneath and the holes for the spring can be drilled accurately.

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More information - DZUS CLIPS AND FASTENERS

RIVET CLAMPS AND SKINPINS

These reusable screw clamps take the place of a rivet during trial assembly. Easily fitted and removed make holding panels in place while drilling a series of holes very simple. Once used will become an essential part of your tool box.

After you’ve drilled your rivet holes through your sheet materials, insert and tighten the rivet clamp. This holds the panel in the correct place prior to riveting and stops it moving or slipping. Remove them one by one as you rivet the material.

These are simply tightened by hand and require no extra tools to install or remove. Available in sizes 3/32” (Red), 1/8” (Yellow), 5/32” (Blue) & 3/16” (Black). The size listed is the diameter of the hole and rivet you intend to drill and fix.

More information - RIVET CLAMPS AND SKINPINS

FLOATING ANCHOR NUTS

FOR HOLDING PANELS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED QUICKLY AND OFTEN

Floating Anchor Nuts are like rivnuts but much stronger and easier to install and use. These are designed for panels that need to be removed quickly and often, they’re a form of captive nut that sits under the receiving panel of the two panels being bolted together.

Floating Anchor nuts are useful for front splitters, fibreglass panels, battery boxes, fuel tank enclosures, wheel arches, and a lot more.

This particular type ‘floating’ are easier to install than the fixed type due to the nut being loose on the anchor plate, meaning that your drilling accuracy does not have to be perfect like it would do for the fixed variant, therefore leaving room for misalignment.

You secure the anchor nut to the panel using countersunk rivets. The nut is also elliptically offset (oval) so is self-locking meaning a secure fit every time.

Available in 3/16”, ¼”, 5/16” UNF and M4, M5, M6, M8 and M10.

More information - FLOATING ANCHOR NUTS