Morgans wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote


Not for the volumes that Cessna could produce with the right designs. I
suspect a thousand a year would justify this equipment. And they could
always subcontract this to a metal stamping company that has the
equipment. And then if they used stir welding or another more modern
assembly technique rather than driving thousands of rivets, I'll bet
they could make a sleek all-metal airplane for much less cost than a
Cirrus composite.


The only problem I see with friction stir for Cessna singles is the fact
that they will get bent with some regularity. Not so with the "other" big
users of the technique, we hope.

Any shop out in "GA world" with a rivet gun can fix a rivet, but with FS
welding, off to a very specialized shop, or the factory.

Nothing says you can't use rivets to repair damage to a non-riveted
structure. Happens all the time on rusty cars in PA!


Besides, Cessna is very good at smashing rivets. Why change that? !!!

Because it is labor intensive even if you are very good at it. I
suppose it could be automated today with robots, but that would likely
cost as much or more than other techniques that have other advantages.
Also, there are places in an airframe where even humans have a hard time
maneuvering so I suspect it would take some pretty specialized to drive
and buck rivets automatically.


Matt