What's Pull-to-Stroke and Pull-to-Force in Blind Riveting? Dual Features Explained

You’ve probably heard the terms “pull-to-stroke” and “pull-to-force” used to describe features of some blind rivet tools. If you’re not sure what these terms mean and why fastening tools with both features are such an important innovation, now is your chance to get clear on the details. Read this blog to learn what these features do and how they ensure quality control when using blind riveting tools for industrial applications.

Industrial manufacturing operations strive to achieve three top objectives on the production floor: speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Pull-to-stroke and pull-to-force tool features support all three of these goals, but in different ways. Watch this video from our Senior Design Engineer Tim Cumersdale explaining the difference between pull-to-force and pull-to-stroke.

Pull-to-Stroke

Pull to stroke settings allow an operator to set the stroke depth based on the thickness of the material the blind riveting is being applied to. When installing the same type of blind rivet nut into a single plate thickness, pull-to-stroke technology ensures that each fastener is compressed by the precise same amount. This means that each stroke will be identical, offering superior quality control and consistency.

Pull-to-Force

Pull-to-force technology is used in variable thickness applications. By always using the appropriate stroke required to set a blind rivet perfectly, an operator can set the same insert into materials of varying thickness. Pull-to-force works by applying a preset force to the blind rivet nuts so that on any grip thickness, the rivet will be set properly based on the force required to set it, rather than relying on a stroke distance. This improves cycle time by delivering the optimum stroke regardless of material, without any need to change tools or setting between materials of different thicknesses.

Supporting Visual Inspection in Blind Riveting

One of the things that makes setting blind rivet fasteners challenging is the lack of visual confirmation operators are able to get from a single vantage point. A blind rivet may look as if it has been properly set from one side, but upon inspection of the other side may be revealed to be placed improperly. With pull-to-force and stroke-to-force settings, the need for visual confirmation of each fastener is largely eliminated. Using these dual technologies, a blind fastening tool gives operators the confidence they need to know rivet placement is correct, without even having to look at the blind side.

Dual Features Provide Time Savings and Quality Assurance for your Blind Riveting Applications

Because pull-to-force and pull-to-stroke features are useful for two very different applications, combining them in a single tool offers dramatic advantages. While pull-to-stroke settings make it easy to quickly set blind rivet fasteners into material with a uniform thickness, the dual settings allow operators to install a wide range of thread sizes and grip combinations without needing to swap out one tool for another. Eliminating the need for multiple tools at a single workstation increases speed and efficiency.

“These dual technologies ensure fasteners will be placed to spec every time, reducing errors and increasing overall quality control.”                                                      —  Tim CumersdaleSenior Design Engineer at STANLEY Engineered Fastening

The Tools in Question

The two tools STANLEY® Engineered Fastening offers with dual pull-to-stroke and pull-to-force capacity are blind rivet tools, the NB08PT-18 Battery Powered Blind Rivet Nut Tool and the pneumatic Avdel® ProSert® XTN20. Both tools offer superior, lightweight ergonomic design for a high level of productivity and endurance. These dual operating modes make these riveting tools for industrial applications some of the best for manufacturers looking for a high return on investment and increased productivity, mobility, and adaptability.