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Guide to AVK Rivet Tools

Guide to AVK Rivet Tools

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AVK Industrial pneumatic rivet installation tools have an ergonomic design that allows for ease of use and dependability. AVK/ARO rivet tools have a rocker style forward feature and a reverse trigger that is easy to use, and a quick-change thread adaption kit that gives you easy access to thread size components. 

The Perfect Tool For The Perfect Fastener

AVK Industrial has developed a specific manufacturing technology called “Spinwall Technology.” AVK rivet nuts have two styles - internally threaded inserts and externally threaded studs. Both products can be installed into flat, tubular or other shaped materials using hand operated or pneumatic hand held tools right on the assembly line without adjustment if the parent material changes thickness. AVK products can be installed after paint or other finishes are applied to the product thus eliminating the need for thread masking.

The AVK Advantage

Material Thickness

In today’s industrial markets, material thickness is being reduced to save weight, fuel, pollution and raw material cost. AVK rivets can be installed into thinner materials with greater ease than can be accomplished with weld nuts, pierce nuts, clinch nuts, thread tapping and thread forming screws.

Installs Blind

Material structures such as hydro formed tubing, aluminum extrusions and composite panels are being specified due to their strength to weight ratios. Blind applications are ideal for AVK fasteners versus other types of fasteners.

No Welding/Cleaner Installs

Welding and the attachment of weld fasteners are being replaced with threaded inserts due to health and clean air requirements for workers. Welding incurs expensive capital equipment for vacuuming and air scrubbing. Weld fasteners also burn away pre-applied galvanized finishes requiring re-work to prevent corrosion. Pre-painted materials cannot be used with weld fasteners, as the welds must be made before the product is painted. AVK inserts can be installed after paint without the need for thread masking.

Plastics & Composites

AVK products can be used on plastic and composite materials thus being the perfect fastener for lightweight products that are molded to prevent corrosion and coloring.

 

AVK/ARO Tool Design Benefits

  • Design – The knurled nose assembly eliminates any torque “kick” during installation. The rocker style trigger is easy to use and eliminates user fatigue.

  • Ergonomics – Designed for high-volume production environments, reducing operator fatigue compared to manual or basic pneumatic alternatives.

  • Versatility – Can handle a wide range of insert sizes and materials (steel, aluminum, stainless) without changing the core tool — just swap the nose assembly.

  • Reliability in production lines – Built for continuous duty cycles, unlike cheaper tools that overheat or lose consistency over time.

  • Controlled mandrel return – Smooth, consistent return stroke prevents fastener wobble during setting.


Advantages of AVK/ARO Pneumatic Tools

  • Power-to-weight ratio – More torque or pull force for their size vs. electric tools.

  • No heat buildup – Air tools naturally stay cooler under continuous use.

  • Intrinsically safe – No electrical components, suitable for flammable environments.

  • Long service life when maintained properly.

Speed & Productivity
  • A pneumatic tool installs a rivet nut in one trigger pull — a manual tool requires multiple handle strokes or turns to complete the same installation.

  • In production environments, this can mean 3–5x faster cycle times, which adds up enormously across hundreds or thousands of fasteners per shift.

Consistency & Quality
  • Manual tools rely on the operator to "feel" when the insert is properly set — this varies person to person and even stroke to stroke.

  • A pneumatic AVK tool delivers the exact same pull force and stroke every time, virtually eliminating under-set or over-set fasteners.

  • This is critical when inserts go into thin or soft materials (aluminum sheet, plastics) where over-pulling strips or deforms the workpiece.

Operator Fatigue & Ergonomics
  • Manual rivet nut tools — especially for larger insert sizes (M8, M10, M12+) — require significant hand and wrist force.

  • Doing this hundreds of times a day leads to repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and fatigue-related errors.

  • Pneumatic tools absorb all that effort, protecting workers in high-volume settings.

Larger Fastener Capability
  • Manual tools are impractical for larger insert sizes (M12 and above).

  • Pneumatic tools handle these effortlessly with no extra operator effort.

When To Choose Manual Tools

  • Low-volume or occasional installations

  • Remote locations without air supply

  • Cost constraints

  • Portability matters more than speed

Note: If you're installing more than a few dozen rivet nuts regularly, a pneumatic AVK tool pays for itself quickly in time saved and quality improvement.

 

How AVK Pneumatic Tools Work

  1. The operator quarter turns an AVK threaded insert onto the tool mandrel and places it into the hole in the parent material.

  2. The top trigger is depressed and the tool mandrel spins into the insert.

  3. The head of the threaded insert is gripped by the knurling at the nose piece preventing it from spinning as the threaded area of the insert “walks” up the mandrel.

  4. As this occurs, the AVK insert expands within the hole wall providing hole fill and then forms a secondary flange against the backside edge of the parent material.

  5. The tool continues to torque the insert’s threads causing the knurling to bite into the backside edge of the parent material.

  6. The tool then stalls when it reaches its predetermined stall torque. This occurs even if the parent material varies in thickness. The tool needs no adjustment to install rivet nuts in variable thickness materials. 

  7. The operator then presses the lower reverse trigger causing the mandrel to spin out of the installed rivet nut.

The Result

The installed rivet nut is now a permanent, load-bearing threaded anchor in the workpiece — ready to accept a bolt or screw from the front side, even though the back side is completely inaccessible.

Industries That Use AVK Rivet Nuts & Tools

Across all these industries, the need is the same — a strong, vibration-resistant threaded connection in material that is either too thin for tapping, accessible from one side only, or needs to remain flush and clean on the visible face.

Automotive & Transportation
  • Car body assembly — attaching brackets, trim, and components to sheet metal where back access is impossible

  • EV battery enclosures — lightweight aluminum structures need reliable threaded points

  • Trucks, trailers, and buses — heavy-duty inserts in frame and body panels

  • Rail & subway cars — interior fittings and structural attachments

Aerospace & Defense
  • Aircraft interiors — seat tracks, overhead bins, panel attachments

  • Fuselage and skin panels — where riveted joints need thread capability

  • Defense vehicles — armor panels, equipment mounting

Electronics & Appliances
  • Sheet metal enclosures — server racks, electrical cabinets, control panels

  • White goods — washing machines, refrigerators, HVAC units

  • Consumer electronics manufacturing — thin-gauge chassis assembly

Construction & HVAC
  • Ductwork assembly — joining thin sheet metal sections

  • Curtain wall systems — facade panel attachment

  • Equipment mounting — anchoring components to structural members

Furniture & Fixtures
  • Commercial furniture — metal framing and flat-pack assembly

  • Retail display fixtures — modular shelving and display systems

  • Medical furniture — adjustable beds, exam tables, equipment carts

Renewable Energy
  • Solar panel mounting systems — aluminum racking structures

  • Wind turbine nacelles — interior component attachment

  • Battery storage enclosures — structural and electrical mounting points

Marine
  • Boat hull fittings — where interior access is restricted

  • Deck hardware mounting

  • Marine electronics enclosures

General Manufacturing
  • Pretty much any sheet metal fabrication shop producing enclosures, brackets, frames, or assemblies uses rivet nuts as a standard fastening solution.

Great Tools for a Great Price

AVK Industrial pneumatic installation tools offer dependability and strength at a great price. Advance Components is an authorized master distributor and repair station for AVK/ARO rivet guns. We offer a variety of styles in stock and ready to ship. Our highly trained sales team is always available to help you select the right tool for the job. Contact us today for your rivet tool solution or buy online 24/7. Advance is a proud distributor of AVK/ARO installation tools and AVK blind threaded inserts.

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