Data storage enclosure

Abstract

An enclosure for a data storage system comprises at least first and second cast magnesium parts joined by rivets, each of which is made of a suitable material that provides compressive strength superior to that of the cast magnesium. Each rivet is of a height or thickness equal to the sum of the thickness of the parts to be riveted. Each such rivet has flat end surfaces and its body is peripherally concave between its ends. The rivet is embedded in the two parts, and the parts flow radially against the concave body of the rivet. No drilling is required, and the parts are held in carefully defined position while being joined, so that the assembled enclosure satisfies strict dimensional tolerances.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An enclosure for a data storage system, the enclosure comprising first and second cast non-ferrous parts, said first and second cast non-ferrous parts fastened together at flange regions by a plurality of rivets, each of the rivets of a length substantially equal to the sum of the thickness of the flange regions, each of the rivets having flat or concave ends, said flat or concave ends substantially parallel to the flange regions, each of the rivets reduced slightly in width between its ends.  
     
     
         2 . The enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the cast non-ferrous parts are substantially magnesium and the rivets are substantially steel.  
     
     
         3 . A method of assembly of an enclosure for a data storage system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 precisely positioning flange regions of two cast non-ferrous parts, said flange regions together defining first and second faces;    juxtaposing to the first face of the flange regions a rivet of a length substantially equal to the sum of the thickness of the flange regions, said rivet having flat or concave ends;    juxtaposing to the second face of the flange regions a flat die having opening therethrough of the same size and shape as the rivet end and a ridge surrounding said opening at the edge thereof, the die axially aligned with the rivet;    positioning against the rivet, and in axial alignment thereto, a punch having a flat or convex end-area of substantially the same size and shape as the end of the rivet and ridge-like staking means projecting from the edge of said flat end-area at opposite sides thereof; and    pressing the punch toward the die, whereby slugs are punched from the flange regions and passed through the opening in the die, and whereby the rivet comes to rest embedded in the flange regions.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising repetition of the first and second juxtaposing steps, the positioning step, and the pressing step, whereby a plurality of rivets are embedded in the flange regions.