HydroPneumatic Riveter System (HPRS) Update

[ROTARY7]

A HydroPneumatic Rivet Squeezer which can accept standard C-yokes is now available (albeit in still limited quantities for now). I am continuing to ramp up production. Below is where they are sold:

http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/products.asp?dept=117

The compact version of the squeezer was demonstrated at Oshkosh 2010, and many asked for this standard version, so here it is. Model 3060-1. Also available is a powered head for the DRDT-2 unit. Model 3400-1.

The below link shows a size comparison with a traditional squeezer:

http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/images/SHPS3060-alt2.jpg

The units are precision designed in Unigraphics NX4, as shown in this link:

http://www.cleavelandtoolstore.com/images/SHPS3060-alt.jpg


The MDS squeezer is obviously smaller (and thus lighter) than a traditional pneumatic squeezer. But less obvious is the fact that the unit produces constant force, as compared to the traditional pneumatic only squeezer which has a peak force range of about .030". This means less fiddling with the compression pin or squeezing the rivet twice to set the final height. The new squeezer is almost 3 lb lighter than the WWII style squeezer shown. A QD (quick disconnect) makes it a snap to plug in different heads. The QD also provides another degree of freedom, in rotation. Couple this with the lighter weight means less wrist fatigue, due to a significantly lower moment of inertia.

These are the heads currently available to be powered by the MDS intensifier, but rest assured there will be more heads available. So, if you invest in the HPRS it wont just gather dust (until the project is competed, then either start a new project, or sell the unit on ebay). A pop riveter head is forthcoming, probably within 2 months, as it is still being refined. And there will be more versions, such as an alligator head.

If anyone has specific questions feel free to email me at:

Machine Design Specialists, Inc.
Dayton, OH (Home of the worlds first successful homebuilt aircraft)
[email protected]

 

[Skyflyer]

Very slick!

Somehow I missed this at OSH 2010. If I were at the beginning of this project rather than approaching the end I would be in line to buy one.

Well done Mark!

 

[flytoboat]

Looks like a great tool! And I thought $500.00 for a CP214 was hard to justify...

 

[clevtool]

Mark, thanks for your continuous long days on this since Oshkosh, if anyone knew the hours that you put into the design and revisions of this, they would appreciate how low the price really is.

Don, I have heard the comments about not being able to justify the cost of a squeezer thousands of times over the past 20 years and I understand for some that is true (just wait until you get to the engine and panel if you can't justify the cost of a tool that you use at least 20,000 times), but I have heard very few say that they wish they wouldn't have bought a pneumatic squeezer. Every one of those comments that I did hear was due to fatigue with the weight of the tool, and this was Mark's complaint when he started conceptualizing the hydro-pneumatic.

Thanks to Mark and all the builders who come up with new ideas and concepts that keep the aviation market moving forward. From aircraft and engine mods to glass panels and autopilots we ought to all be proud of those that make this truly a revolutionary hobby.

 

[ROTARY7]

Thanks for the postive comments. I have my -7 structure complete (has basically idled for a year now) and I sure wish I would have had the DRDT-2 and a powered head myself when I was doing most of that work.

As far as investment in tools go, they can be expensive and I understand people tending to want to put the money into aircaft components. I didn't get all the way thru my empennage kit before I broke down and bought CAT's traditional squeezer. It was by far the best tooling purchase I made at the time. I had planned to resell it on ebay or the like, but will hold on it for comparison purposes.

I believe my squeezer will be far better and more versatile, since it isnt just a squeezer. I expect to give the existing manufacturers a run for their money soon. For example, if one buys the 3060-1 standard squeezer with a current 3K of force capability, the force capability can be upgraded in the near future by screwing in a tandem cylinder and piston, for about half of the 3060-1 head price. This unit with 2X the force will still be slightly shorter and 2 lb lighter than a std 3K pneumatic unit. If you want a stronger squeezer currently you really start paying thru the nose. Of course most homebuilders wont need this capability, unless you are squeezing large diameter or monel type rivets. But anyone who has browsed USATCO, Brown Aircraft, or other aviation tooling catalog knows there are 6K and 9K twin and triple pneumatic squeezers out there for upwards of about $2K. And squeezing is all these units do folks!

Anyway, one day I hope to actually finish my plane too!

 

[ROTARY7]

I should also re-emphasize this point:

If you bought a $700 powered squeezer of about any type, you could likely RESELL it on ebay for probably at least $400 if it is in good condition. So, while you certainly will not be using it evey hour of say a 2,000 hr build time (lets assume you went the slow and cheaper standard kit route like me) it would be at your disposal for this entire time. Every time you needed to attach a few nutplates to a bracket you would be able to do this quickly.

Doing the math: $700-$400 / 2000 hr = $.15/hr rental cost. Seems pretty cheap to me. Yes there are yokes to buy too. And yokes can get sold too.

Buy a $10K glass panel that is sure to be outdated in a year, and try and sell it on ebay. See how much money you get for it.

I anticipate my units, being new and more versatile will hold there value for the considerable future.

 

[ppilotmike]

Wow! That was fast!

Mark,

I saw your hydro squeezer at Osh 2010 (my first ever Osh) and was impressed then. I remember several people in your booth area talking about Standard yokes, blah, blah, blah, Cost, blah, blah, blah, etc... Since I hadn't built anything yet, and my knowledge level was low, I listened and tried not to say anything too stupid, while my friend (RV-7A) was like a kid in a candy store. Since then, I have gained a greater appreciation for what you are doing (have done). I fully intend to incorporate this into my toolbox as soon as I am ready to pull the trigger. Thanks for your efforts!

 

[Danny7]

Buy a $10K glass panel that is sure to be outdated in a year, and try and sell it on ebay. See how much money you get for it.

I anticipate my units, being new and more versatile will hold there value for the considerable future.

Your units i hope do hold value for a long time. But a properly designed glass panel is not outdated in a year. It probably is not outdated in 10 years. Don't use poor examples to boost your own items

 

[ROTARY7]

Moores Law

Danny,

I'm an Aero Engineer with 22+ years experience, and although I specialize in structures, am familiar with the glass panels, as I installed EFIS on Airborne Express DC-8s and DC-9s over 17 years ago. I don't consider it a poor example at all regarding glass panels. If I bought a 10K glass panel, and didn't even take it out of the box, I'm sure I'd be lucky to get $8k for it if I tried to sell it a week later. This is akin to buying about anything electronic, or driving a car off the lot. You are free to believe what you want, but my point was that this sort of specialized tooling does not depreciate rapidly after an initial knock down. If you re-read my post, I said: "If you bought a $700 powered squeezer of about any type, you could likely RESELL it on ebay". I was trying to convey the notion that one can buy ANY TOOL, NOT JUST MINE, used or new, use it for a period during constructing, and then resell it for a reasonable return.

I don't know what the vintage of your home PC is, but what exactly do you think is powering a "properly designed glass panel", a mouse on a wheel? It is a microchip. And the microchip and the software running the display are basically a PC, which becomes obsolete in about 3 years. If you think I'm wrong here, you must not have heard of Moores law, in which case you can read up on it with the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law

You may still have a Intel 386, but I doubt you're using it. If you disagree with this logic, how is that "properly designed" 10 year old black and white GPS working out for you. I bet it doesn't give turn by turn instructions.

 

[ROTARY7]

Thanks Mike. I have worked hard to make this tool very versatile and offer advantages at a competitive price.

 

[xavierm]

Tool looks interesting

I'm planning to get one as soon as I'm able. My current squeezer may be posted for sale soon.

 

[david.perl]

tools update

Just a quick update on these tools – I purchased them a few months ago and have started a very slow build on the empennage – at this rate at 5 hours per week plans will be obsolete by the time ive finished.

I’ve used the yoke squeezer the most and am delighted with its light weight and functionality. I’ve posted a review elsewhere on this forum

I’ve just started using the C frame head and must say it too is a brilliant tool. I dimpled the shown skin in around 10 mins and its silent as well! You have to lift the skin to engage the nipple otherwise iots too easy to dimple in the wrong place, but as both hands are free, it’s a sinch. I had the DRDT frame made up here in blighty and u can see from the pic it is oversized 0 must weight 150 pounds! Ive tried some rivet squeezing with it and it works like a dream for that as well, as the frame is so rigid. Im not sure how it would work for standard frame though.

I just recived the rivet puller last week and have yet to test it out, but u can see from the pics its small and light.

So all in all, early impressions are an excellent set of tools that may cost a little more than the old fashioned tools (but factor in u get a foot control, adjustable sets and each additional tool is cheaper to buy). Functionality and ergonomics are outstanding and once the air is bled from the system , long term use seems good as well.

Backup support and response to emails has also been exceelnt even at weekends.

Thanks to Mark and also Mike at Cleveland tools who advised on the small mod required on the c frame to use a rigid pipe around the frame to avoid pressure loss on a longer cable run.