OEM engineering resource
Electrical Contact Rivet RFQ Specification Checklist
Define the electrical load, contact system, rivet geometry, material, assembly process and validation criteria needed for a useful silver contact rivet quotation.
What Information Is Needed to Quote an Electrical Contact Rivet?
A complete RFQ should include the device application, voltage, make and break current, AC or DC, load type, contact force, target electrical life, contact material, rivet structure, head and shank dimensions, terminal material, assembly method, annual volume and acceptance criteria. A drawing or physical sample should be supplied whenever possible. The alloy name alone is not a complete contact-system specification.
Minimum RFQ Package
These three inputs are the practical starting point. If one is unavailable, mark it as unknown instead of substituting an assumed value.
Drawing or Sample
Provide a controlled 2D drawing, 3D model, clear sample photographs or an identified physical sample with the current part revision.
Electrical and Mechanical Data
State the actual make and break conditions, load type, contact force, movement and life target for the device.
Volume and Quality Plan
Include prototype quantity, annual demand, inspection requirements, packing method and the intended production schedule.
1. Device and Electrical Load Data
Contact material behavior depends on the complete switching circuit. Describe the duty at the contact, not only the nominal rating printed on the finished device.
| Input | Information to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Device and application | Relay, micro switch, rocker switch, push button, contactor, circuit breaker, thermostat or another device; automotive, appliance or industrial use | Establishes the assembly environment and typical operating constraints. |
| Voltage and current | Rated voltage, make current, carry current, break current and abnormal or inrush conditions | Separates current carrying from the more severe making and breaking events. |
| Current type | AC or DC, frequency for AC, polarity or direction for DC where relevant | Arc duration and material transfer can differ between AC and DC systems. |
| Load type | Resistive, inductive, motor, lamp, capacitive, transformer, solenoid or mixed load | Load waveform and inrush influence welding, erosion and transfer behavior. |
| Duty cycle | Switching frequency, on-time, off-time, continuous carry time and maximum operating rate | Supports thermal and electrical-life review. |
| Life target | Required electrical operations and mechanical operations, including pass/fail conditions | Defines the duration and endpoint of representative validation. |
| Environment | Operating temperature, humidity, atmosphere, contamination risk and enclosure condition | Surface films and temperature can affect resistance and service behavior. |
2. Mechanical Contact System
Closed-contact conditions
Switching movement
3. Contact Rivet Drawing Dimensions
Use the customer’s drawing symbols and datum system. The labels below are an input checklist, not a substitute for a controlled drawing.
4. Material and Rivet Structure
Specify the complete material stack. A request for “silver contact” does not identify the alloy grade, contact-face thickness or copper-base material.
| Decision | Options or data | RFQ status |
|---|---|---|
| Contact-face material | AgNi, AgSnO2, AgCdO, AgZnO, AgW, AgWC or another controlled designation; include composition or grade where specified | Customer specified / supplier proposal / unknown |
| Rivet structure | Solid contact, bimetal contact rivet, tri-metal contact rivet or another drawing-defined construction | Confirm on drawing |
| Base material | Copper or copper alloy designation, temper and any conductivity requirement | Customer specified / supplier proposal |
| Interface requirement | Bonded interface location, permitted interface condition and any destructive-test requirement | Define acceptance method |
| Surface condition | Working-face finish, cleanliness, oxidation limit, burr direction and handling requirement | Define measurable criteria |
| Substance requirements | Destination markets, customer restricted-substance specification and required declarations | Customer compliance team to confirm |
5. Carrier and Riveting Process
Terminal or Spring Blade
State the carrier material, temper, thickness, hole diameter, hole tolerance, plating and available support around the rivet location. Include the carrier drawing when the supplier is expected to review assembly fit.
Riveting Method
Identify the press or assembly method, tooling contact surfaces, force or displacement control, target upset geometry, allowed contact-height change and whether the contact is supplied loose or assembled.
6. Inspection and Validation Criteria
Quotation quality improves when the RFQ states how samples and production lots will be accepted.
| Category | Possible criteria to define | Responsible party |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional | Critical dimensions, sampling plan, gauge method, measurement condition and capability requirement | Customer and supplier quality teams |
| Visual and surface | Burrs, cracks, dents, contamination, oxidation, exposed base material and working-face damage | Drawing or approved visual standard |
| Joint integrity | Bond-interface examination, peel, shear, sectioning or another agreed method when applicable | Customer specification and supplier process control |
| Electrical | Initial resistance, resistance stability, temperature rise, welding, erosion and material transfer | Device-level validation owner |
| Life test | Actual load, operating rate, environment, sample count, failure definition and reporting points | Customer engineering, with supplier input where agreed |
| Submission | Sample report, dimensional results, material declaration, certificate of analysis or other customer-required records | Defined in the purchase or quality agreement |
7. Commercial and Supply Inputs
Quantity
Prototype quantity, first production order, monthly forecast and annual demand.
Tooling
New or existing tooling, ownership expectation, sample stages and approval timing.
Packing
Bulk, tray, reel or customer-defined packing; labeling and lot-traceability needs.
Delivery
Required sample date, production start, shipping terms and delivery destination.
Quality documents
Drawing approval, inspection report, material documentation and any customer-specific format.
Change control
Approval requirements for material, source, process, tooling or drawing changes.
Printable RFQ Summary
Related Engineering Pages
RFQ Checklist FAQ
Can a supplier quote from a sample without a drawing?
A sample can support an initial feasibility review, but it may not reveal the original tolerances, contact-layer thickness, material grade or acceptance criteria. A controlled drawing should be created and approved before serial production.
Is AgNi, AgSnO2 or AgCdO enough information to select a contact rivet?
No. The alloy designation is one input. The switching load, contact force, bounce, geometry, base material, assembly deformation, environment and life target also affect the contact system.
What dimensions are needed for a bimetal contact rivet?
Typical drawing inputs include head diameter, head thickness, contact-layer thickness, shank diameter, shank length, shoulder dimensions, profile, radii, tolerances and critical geometric controls.
Who should approve a replacement contact material?
The device owner should approve it through engineering, compliance and device-level validation. A material proposed as an alternative should not be treated as a drop-in replacement without representative testing.
What should be included with the first RFQ email?
Attach the latest drawing or clear sample information, identify the device and load, state the material status, quantity and timing, and list the electrical, dimensional and documentation criteria used for approval.
Submit a Drawing-Based Contact Rivet RFQ
Send the latest drawing, switching conditions and volume plan. Contactrivets can review the rivet structure, material inputs and manufacturing route before quotation.