Multi-piece fasteners, fastening collar installation apparatus, and methods of fastening are provided. The multi-piece fastener comprises a fastening collar and a pin. The fastening collar comprises a first collar end, a second collar end, and a collar cavity. The collar cavity extends from the first collar end to the second collar end. The pin is configured to be at least partially received by the collar cavity. The pin comprises a first pin end comprising a head portion, a second pin end comprising a pull region, and a shank. The pull region is generally cylindrical and smooth and is configured to form at least one of an annular shoulder, a groove, a thread, and other feature responsive to forcible contact from a fastening collar installation apparatus. The shank extends intermediate the first pin end and the second pin end. The fastening collar is configured to be deformed onto the shank.

A board-to-board fixture includes rivet sleeve having hollow tube with perforation inside, stop flange formed on the bottom side of hollow tube, operating space formed in the stop flange to communicate with perforation and expansion portion formed on the top side of hollow tube, and rivet rod having head, tapered impact portion formed on the bottom side of head, deformation portion downwardly protruded from the bottom side of impact portion for pressing against the top side of preset rivet gun socket at the operating space to generate deformation, increasing bump extending downward from the outer edge of the bottom side of deformation portion, breaking portion with a smaller round diameter formed on the center of the bottom side of deformation portion and shank downwardly extending from the bottom side of breaking portion to penetrate the perforation and the operating space through the expansion portion of rivet sleeve.

A board-to-board fixture includes rivet sleeve having hollow tube with perforation inside, stop flange formed on the bottom side of hollow tube, operating space formed in the stop flange to communicate with perforation and expansion portion formed on the top side of hollow tube, and rivet rod having head, tapered impact portion formed on the bottom side of head, deformation portion downwardly protruded from the bottom side of impact portion for pressing against the top side of preset rivet gun socket at the operating space to generate deformation, increasing bump extending downward from the outer edge of the bottom side of deformation portion, breaking portion with a smaller round diameter formed on the center of the bottom side of deformation portion and shank downwardly extending from the bottom side of breaking portion to penetrate the perforation and the operating space through the expansion portion of rivet sleeve.

A thermally stabilized fastener system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates a fastener (FAS) incorporating a faster retention head (FRH), fastener retention body (FRB), and fastener retention tip (FRT) to couple a mechanical member stack (MMS) in a thermally stabilized fashion using a fastener retention receiver (FRR). The MMS includes a temperature compensating member (TCM), a first retention member (FRM), and an optional second retention member (SRM). The TCM is constructed using a tailored thermal expansion coefficient (TTC) that permits the TCM to compensate for the thermal expansion characteristics of the FAS, FRM, and SRM such that the force applied by the FRH and FRR portions of the FAS to the MMS is tailored to a specific temperature force profile (TFP) over changes in MMS/FAS temperature. The TCM may be selected with a TTC to achieve a uniform TFP over changes in MMS/FAS temperature.

A thermally stabilized fastener system and method is disclosed. The disclosed system/method integrates a fastener (FAS) incorporating a faster retention head (FRH), fastener retention body (FRB), and fastener retention tip (FRT) to couple a mechanical member stack (MMS) in a thermally stabilized fashion using a fastener retention receiver (FRR). The MMS includes a temperature compensating member (TCM), a first retention member (FRM), and an optional second retention member (SRM). The TCM is constructed using a tailored thermal expansion coefficient (TTC) that permits the TCM to compensate for the thermal expansion characteristics of the FAS, FRM, and SRM such that the force applied by the FRH and FRR portions of the FAS to the MMS is tailored to a specific temperature force profile (TFP) over changes in MMS/FAS temperature. The TCM may be selected with a TTC to achieve a uniform TFP over changes in MMS/FAS temperature.

A dimpled substrate for use in an assembly having joined substrates is provided that defines at least one preformed interior cavity, at least one preformed exterior profile adjacent the interior cavity and defining a wall therebetween, and at least one locating feature configured to identify a location of the at least one preformed exterior profile. In one form, the locating feature is disposed in the preformed exterior profile or adjacent to the preformed exterior profile. Alternatively, the locating feature is a notch formed into the dimpled substrate away from the preformed exterior profile.

A dimpled substrate for use in an assembly having joined substrates is provided that defines at least one preformed interior cavity, at least one preformed exterior profile adjacent the interior cavity and defining a wall therebetween, and at least one locating feature configured to identify a location of the at least one preformed exterior profile. In one form, the locating feature is disposed in the preformed exterior profile or adjacent to the preformed exterior profile. Alternatively, the locating feature is a notch formed into the dimpled substrate away from the preformed exterior profile.

A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

A fastener including a pin member having a shank portion, a threaded portion having a thread, a lock portion having at least one lock groove, and a pull portion located having at least one pull groove. The threaded portion is adapted to be engaged threadedly with a threaded hole of a workpiece to install the pin member therein. The fastener includes a swage collar adapted to be installed into the at least one lock groove of the lock portion to secure a plurality of workpieces. The pull portion is adapted to break off when the fastener is installed.