Pan Head Semi Hollow Rivets

Between the tall dome of a round head and the low profile of a flat head lies the pan head. It has a wide, slightly domed top with a short vertical side – like a pan turned upside down. For assemblers who need more bearing area than a round head but more head height than a flat head, pan head semi hollow rivets offer a practical compromise.

Nuote Metals cold‑heads pan head semi hollow rivets in low‑carbon steel, stainless steel (304/316), and brass. The semi‑hollow cavity reduces setting force by about 70% compared to a solid rivet. This page gives you the technical details first, then shows how a tripod manufacturer used our rivets to solve a weight‑saving challenge.

Technical Specifications – What You Get

Head Geometry – Pan vs. Others

The pan head is often mistaken for a round head, but the straight sidewall gives it a larger, flatter bearing surface – ideal for thin sheets or plastic without looking industrial.

Material Options

Standard Dimensions (Steel, Pan Head)

Tolerances: Shank ±0.05mm, head dia ±0.15mm, length ±0.15mm. Custom lengths available.

Mechanical Data (5mm Steel, Set into 2mm Aluminium)

Check the Video below to see how we make a rivet

One Application – Camera Tripod Leg Hinges

A tripod manufacturer wanted to reduce weight without sacrificing strength. The leg hinge used solid steel rivets that added unnecessary mass and required heavy setting forces that sometimes cracked the magnesium alloy hinge brackets.

Nuote Metals proposed 304 stainless pan head semi hollow rivets – 4mm shank, 8mm pan head, 8mm barrel length. The pan head provided a larger bearing area than a round head, reducing stress on the magnesium. The semi‑hollow cavity cut setting force from 4 tons to 1.4 tons – no more cracking. The 304 stainless matched the leg tubes’ finish.

The tripod company tested 500 rivets across 100 units. After 10,000 open‑close cycles, no loosening or corrosion. They reduced overall hinge weight by 12% and assembly time by 20%. They now use our pan head semi hollow rivets across their entire professional tripod line.

Real Customer Feedback

How We Control Quality – One Rivet, Eight Checks

We do not trust luck. Every batch of pan head semi hollow rivets passes through eight separate quality gates. The principle is simple: measure early, measure often, and never assume.

• Raw material diameter check – Incoming wire is measured with a laser micrometer. Diameter tolerance: ±0.02mm. Any coil outside this range is rejected before it touches our headers.
• Raw material hardness check – A sample from each coil is tested on a Rockwell hardness tester. For low‑carbon steel, we require HRB 70–85. Too soft, and the rivet will deform during heading. Too hard, and the cavity may crack.
• First article appearance check – After tooling setup, the first 10 rivets are visually inspected under magnification. We look for cracks, flash, uneven heads, or surface marks. Any visible defect stops the press.
• First article dimensional check – The same 10 rivets are measured on an optical comparator. Head diameter, head height, shank diameter, total length, and cavity depth. All must be within drawing tolerances before production starts.
• In‑process checks – During mass production, the operator pulls 5 rivets every 500 pieces. Dimensions are verified with digital calipers and a go/no‑go gauge for cavity depth. Any drift triggers tooling adjustment.
• Test setting (trial riveting) – Every 2,000 pieces, we set 3 rivets into a representative material sample (same thickness and type as your assembly). The clinch is inspected for symmetry and tightness. No loose or cracked rivets are accepted.
• Salt spray test (if required) – For outdoor or marine applications, we send samples to our lab for ASTM B117 salt spray testing. 304 grade: 200–500 hours. 316 grade: 1,000+ hours. A certificate is issued with the batch.
• Final outgoing inspection – Before packaging, every rivet passes through an optical sorting machine. Cameras check head diameter, head height, shank diameter, total length, and cavity depth. Rejects are automatically ejected. A random AQL sample (Level II, 1.0) is then pulled for manual verification.

A pan head semi hollow rivet that survives all eight steps is ready to leave our factory. We keep records of every check for five years.

What You Receive With Every Order

• Mill test certificate (chemistry, tensile)
• Dimensional inspection report (10 pieces)
• Test setting report (clinch photos, pull force if measured)
• Coating or passivation certificate (if applicable)
• Salt spray test certificate (if requested)
• Certificate of Conformance

Nuote Metals is ISO 9001:2015 certified. RoHS and REACH declarations provided.

Policies

• Samples – 20–50 free pieces for standard stocked sizes (customer pays shipping)
• MOQ – 2,000 pieces (steel/brass), 3,000 (stainless)
• Lead time (stock) – 5–7 business days
• Lead time (custom barrel) – 12–15 days
• Tooling charges – None for standard pan head tooling (3–6mm shank)

Three Questions We Answer Often

Q1: When should I choose a pan head semi hollow rivet over a round head or a flat head?

A: Choose pan head when you need a larger bearing surface than round head (to prevent pull‑through in soft materials) but you also need more head height than a flat head (for aesthetic or clearance reasons). The pan head’s straight sidewall gives it a clean, finished look that is preferred on consumer products like tripods, furniture, and tools. Round head is simpler and cheaper. Flat head is for flush applications. Pan head is the “premium visible” option.

Q2: Can pan head semi hollow rivets be used in carbon fibre parts, like a tripod leg?

A: Yes, but care is needed. Carbon fibre is brittle and can crush under the rivet head. The pan head’s larger bearing area helps distribute the load. Use a barrel length exactly 1.0mm longer than the material stack. Set with a press (not a hammer) at low force. For the tripod case above, the customer used an aluminium bracket – not carbon fibre. We have supplied pan head rivets for carbon fibre drone arms with a special soft‑set cavity. Contact us for specific recommendations.

Q3: You offer free samples for stocked sizes. What are your stocked sizes for pan head semi hollow rivets?

A: We keep the following sizes in stock for immediate sampling (20–50 pieces free, customer pays shipping):

4mm shank, 8mm head, barrel lengths 6mm, 8mm, 10mm (steel, zinc plated)

5mm shank, 10mm head, barrel lengths 8mm, 10mm, 12mm (steel and 304 stainless)

6mm shank, 12mm head, barrel lengths 10mm, 12mm, 15mm (steel only)

For other sizes or custom lengths, lead time is 12–15 days. We do not charge extra for first‑time sampling on custom sizes – you only pay shipping.

See the Pan Head Difference

We can mail you 20–50 pieces of pan head semi hollow rivets in your chosen material and size. Set them into your tripod hinge, bracket, or any assembly. Compare the bearing area and the setting ease.

Contact Nuote Metals with your shank diameter, barrel length, and material. Free samples ship within one business day.