Shoulder rivets are used in assemblies where controlled spacing, rotation, or alignment is required often in pivoting or rotating mechanisms where a standard rivet or screw cannot maintain consistent geometry.
In most applications, shoulder rivets are designed by the customer’s engineering or industrial design team to meet a specific functional requirement. Once that design is defined, the challenge becomes sourcing or manufacturing the rivet exactly as specified.
While some shoulder rivets may resemble stocked components, there is no true universal standard for shoulder rivets. Geometry, shoulder length, bearing surface, and tolerances are inherently application specific. As a result, most shoulder rivets are custom fasteners manufactured to customer print.
Standard vs. Print-Specific Shoulder Rivets
Standard shoulder rivets may be available when dimensions, materials, and tolerances align with existing inventory. When they do, they offer speed and cost efficiency.
Print-specific shoulder rivets exist because the drawing requires geometry or performance that standard inventory does not provide. This is not an upgrade or optimization choice the design governs.
When Shoulder Rivets Become Print-Specific
A shoulder rivet typically becomes print-specific when requirements include:
- Non-standard shoulder diameters
- Shaft lengths dictated by assembly stack-up
- Bearing surfaces with specific profiles
- Tolerances tighter than stocked parts provide
- Material or origin requirements not met by inventory
When these conditions exist, substituting a stocked part is not acceptable without redesign. The rivet must be manufactured exactly as specified.
Manufacturing Process and Quantity Considerations
Shoulder rivets can be produced using different manufacturing processes depending on quantity, size, geometry, and material.
At higher volumes, shoulder rivets may be produced using cold heading or, for larger geometries, hot forging. These processes are efficient and repeatable when quantities justify tooling and setup.
For lower volumes, prototypes, or designs with complex geometry or material constraints, machining is often the most practical manufacturing method.
Cold Heading vs. Machining: Practical Manufacturing Considerations
| Consideration | Cold Heading / Forming | Machining |
| Typical quantity range | Medium to high volumes | Low to medium volumes; short runs |
| Material suitability | Limited to formable materials | Broad material range |
| Geometry constraints | Limited by forming and upset ratios | Highly flexible geometry |
| Tolerance capability | Consistent within forming limits | Tight tolerances achievable |
| Tooling requirement | Perishable production tooling | Minimal or no dedicated tooling |
In cold heading operations, forming dies are considered perishable production tooling, are not customer-owned, and are typically absorbed into production economics rather than charged as a separate tooling item. This principle applies broadly to cold-headed rivets, semi-tubular rivets, screws, and similar fasteners.
How G-Fast Fits Into Print-Specific Shoulder Rivets
G-Fast reviews customer drawings for manufacturability, feasibility, and cost efficiency. We work strictly from approved customer prints and do not provide design services.
When appropriate, we may identify alternative materials or manufacturing processes for consideration based on feasibility. Any recommendation is advisory only and must be reviewed, approved, and reflected on an updated print by the customer’s engineering team prior to production.
Working With G-Fast
If your application requires a shoulder rivet that cannot be sourced from standard inventory, G-Fast can evaluate your print-specific requirement and provide clear feedback on feasibility, lead time, and cost drivers. Submit your drawing for review to begin the evaluation process.
