I. Flat-Head Press Rivet Screws: The "Fast Performer" for Efficient Mass Assembly
The core competitiveness of flat-head press rivet screws lies in their press-riveting process featuring "no pre-tapping, one-step fastening," combined with a flat-head design—making them highly advantageous in scenarios pursuing efficiency and surface flatness. Their head adopts a pure flat structure with a thickness of only 1-1.5mm; after installation, it can fit perfectly flush with the surface of the connected component, with a flatness error ≤ 0.04mm, avoiding scratching and dust accumulation issues caused by protruding heads of traditional screws.
The screw rod is equipped with special knurled teeth or threads. During press-riveting, a dedicated device applies an axial pressure of 8-20kN, allowing the knurled teeth to embed into the inner wall of the prefabricated hole in the plate, forming a non-detachable rigid connection. The entire process requires no pre-tapping, with a single operation taking only 2-4 seconds—improving efficiency by more than 3 times compared to traditional screw connections.
In the field of electronic equipment manufacturing, flat-head press rivet screws are the "main assembly force" for products such as servers and routers. Taking server chassis as an example: it needs to connect 1.5mm-thick cold-rolled steel plates with 2mm-thick galvanized steel brackets. Traditional screw connections require pre-tapping on the plates, which easily causes plate deformation and thread stripping. In contrast, flat-head press rivet screws can complete press-riveting through a φ3.5mm prefabricated hole. The flat-head design does not occupy the internal wiring space of the chassis, and the knurled tooth structure can resist fan vibrations during server operation, ensuring long-term connection stability. Data from an electronic equipment manufacturer shows that after adopting flat-head press rivet screws, the daily output of the server chassis assembly line increased from 1,200 units to 3,000 units, and the defect rate dropped from 5% to 0.8%.
Flat-head press rivet screws also play an important role in automotive electronic subsystems. For example, in the housing assembly of in-vehicle navigation hosts: it needs to connect 1.2mm-thick aluminum alloy housings with PCB board brackets. The press-riveting process does not damage the plate coating, and the flat head ensures a smooth housing surface, meeting the aesthetic requirements of automotive interiors. Meanwhile, its anti-vibration performance can cope with bumps during vehicle driving, preventing loosening of internal components of the navigation host and complying with the reliability standards for automotive electronics. Additionally, in the assembly of junction boxes for new energy vehicle battery packs, these screws can achieve rust prevention through galvanization or passivation treatment, meeting the corrosion resistance requirements of battery packs.
II. Pressure Plate Screws: The "Versatile Expert" for Flexible Adaptation to Non-Standard Connections
Different from the "fixed fastening" of flat-head press rivet screws, pressure plate screws take "adjustability and strong pressure application" as their core advantages. Their structure consists of a "pressure plate + screw rod + nut": the pressure plate can be customized according to the shape of the connected component (e.g., rectangular, arc-shaped, special-shaped), and the length of the screw rod can be flexibly selected (ranging from 10mm to 100mm). During assembly, tightening the nut drives the pressure plate to press down, firmly fixing the connected component on the base. This design adapts to the connection needs of components with different thicknesses and irregular shapes, and is particularly suitable for scenarios requiring frequent disassembly or position adjustment.
In the field of mechanical equipment manufacturing, pressure plate screws are the "fixing tool" for equipment such as machine tools and printing machines. Taking the assembly of CNC machine tool worktables as an example: the worktable needs to be fixed on the machine tool guide rail and requires fine position adjustment according to processing needs. Traditional fixing methods struggle to balance "fastening performance" and "flexibility." However, pressure plate screws—equipped with customized arc-shaped pressure plates—can tightly fit the worktable to the guide rail. The screw rod reserves an adjustment margin of 5-10mm, facilitating workers to fine-tune the worktable position. After tightening, the pressure plate pressure can reach over 3,000N, ensuring no displacement of the worktable during machine tool operation. A machine tool manufacturer reported that after adopting pressure plate screws, the worktable installation and debugging time was reduced from 4 hours to 1.5 hours, and the processing accuracy error was reduced by 0.02mm.
In the field of construction machinery and heavy equipment, the "strong pressure application" feature of pressure plate screws is more prominent. For example, in the bucket connection of excavators: the bucket needs to be connected to the boom via a pin shaft, and the fixing of the pin shaft relies on pressure plate screws. Customized thickened pressure plates (8-12mm thick) can wrap the end of the pin shaft; the screw rod is made of high-strength alloy steel, which can withstand a tensile force of over 50kN after tightening. This resists severe impacts and vibrations during excavator operation, avoiding safety accidents caused by loose pin shafts. Additionally, in bridge maintenance equipment, pressure plate screws can be used to fix the brackets of detection instruments, with the pressure plate position flexibly adjusted according to the detection location to adapt to the detection needs of different bridge structures.
III. Collaborative Application: A Fastening Combination Covering All Scenarios
In many industrial scenarios, flat-head press rivet screws and pressure plate screws are not used independently—instead, they form a "fixing + adjustment" collaborative combination, further expanding the application range. In the field of sheet metal manufacturing (e.g., in the production of distribution boxes): the outer shell of the distribution box adopts flat-head press rivet screws for mass press-riveting assembly, ensuring a smooth shell surface and efficient assembly; while internal components of the distribution box (such as circuit breakers and relays) are fixed on mounting rails via pressure plate screws, facilitating disassembly or replacement of components during later maintenance. This not only ensures the aesthetics and firmness of the shell but also balances the flexibility of internal components.
This collaborative application is more typical in the medical device field. For example, in the housing assembly of ECG monitors: the main body of the housing is connected via flat-head press rivet screws, ensuring the shell's sealing performance and surface flatness, which complies with the hygiene standards for medical devices; while the internal sensor modules of the monitor are fixed via small pressure plate screws, allowing medical staff to adjust the sensor position according to patient needs or quickly disassemble and maintain the device during equipment maintenance—balancing the stability and operational flexibility of the device.
IV. Conclusion: The "Cornerstone Components" in the Industrial Fastening Field
Although flat-head press rivet screws and pressure plate screws differ in structure and function, they jointly support the diverse needs of industrial manufacturing with their "wide adaptability." Flat-head press rivet screws, relying on efficient press-riveting processes and smooth surface effects, have become the "standard" for mass precision assembly; pressure plate screws, with flexible adjustment performance and strong pressure application effects, solve the problems of non-standard and adjustable connections.
From the micro-assembly of electronic equipment to the stable fixing of heavy machinery, from the efficient production lines of automobile manufacturing to the precise adaptation of medical devices—their presence can be seen in all corners of the industrial field. As manufacturing develops toward automation and customization, flat-head press rivet screws and pressure plate screws will further optimize their structures and performance, providing reliable fastening solutions for more emerging fields (such as intelligent equipment and aerospace supporting equipment) and continuing to play the important role of "cornerstone components" in industrial manufacturing.
