The invention for working extruded profile sections with respect to the outer contours thereof by way of hot shaping and/or hot stamping and/or cutting operations and/or punching operations comprises the following method steps: inserting the profile sections (1) heated to a temperature in the range of 250 to 450 C. into a two-part shaping tool (2) preheated to a temperature of 300 to 600 C.; and applying pressure to the shaping tool (2) by way of one or more pressing cylinders (3) of a press (4). The device for carrying out the method comprises a press (4) and a shaping tool, wherein the shaping tool (2) is formed of two tool halves I, II, which are displaceable with respect to each other, and between which the profile section (1) is inserted.

The invention for working extruded profile sections with respect to the outer contours thereof by way of hot shaping and/or hot stamping and/or cutting operations and/or punching operations comprises the following method steps: inserting the profile sections (1) heated to a temperature in the range of 250 to 450 C. into a two-part shaping tool (2) preheated to a temperature of 300 to 600 C.; and applying pressure to the shaping tool (2) by way of one or more pressing cylinders (3) of a press (4). The device for carrying out the method comprises a press (4) and a shaping tool, wherein the shaping tool (2) is formed of two tool halves I, II, which are displaceable with respect to each other, and between which the profile section (1) is inserted.

An apparatus configured to produce a letterbox using a strip of material including: a processor configured to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material; a puncher configured to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, the puncher configured to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second plurality of hole positions; a support structure; an auto rivet machine coupled to the support structure, the support structure configured to support and hold the auto rivet machine such that the auto rivet machine can be moved above the first and second plurality of holes on the letterbox to be riveted.

A method for undetachably introducing a guiding aid element into at least one joining location of at least one component is provided. The method includes the acts of: a) perforating the at least one component at the at least one joining location in a first press stroke of a tool press, wherein a preliminary hole is formed at the at least one joining location; b) inserting a joining aid element into the at least one preliminary hole; and c) pressing the at least one joining aid element with the at least one component in a subsequent press stroke or working step to form a material-bonding, form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the at least one component and the at least one joining aid element. A component and a composite component produced by such a method are also provided.

A method for undetachably introducing a guiding aid element into at least one joining location of at least one component is provided. The method includes the acts of: a) perforating the at least one component at the at least one joining location in a first press stroke of a tool press, wherein a preliminary hole is formed at the at least one joining location; b) inserting a joining aid element into the at least one preliminary hole; and c) pressing the at least one joining aid element with the at least one component in a subsequent press stroke or working step to form a material-bonding, form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the at least one component and the at least one joining aid element. A component and a composite component produced by such a method are also provided.

An apparatus and method for operating a staking assembly includes a housing defining a machining passage having a longitudinal axis, an actuator rod disposed for axial movement along the longitudinal axis in the machining passage, having a first end configured to connect to a linear-reciprocating source of movement and a second end having a tool configured to deform a boss, and an air source configured to selectively provide a source of heated air.

An apparatus and method for operating a staking assembly includes a housing defining a machining passage having a longitudinal axis, an actuator rod disposed for axial movement along the longitudinal axis in the machining passage, having a first end configured to connect to a linear-reciprocating source of movement and a second end having a tool configured to deform a boss, and an air source configured to selectively provide a source of heated air.

An outer panel of a different-material panel structure has a hem part in which a peripheral edge part of an inner panel is held via a resin layer on a folded part formed in the peripheral edge part. A rivet has a shaft part passing through the outer panel, and a rivet shaft recess is formed in the tip of the shaft part. An inner protrusion is provided in the inner panel, and the inner protrusion is disposed in the rivet shaft recess. A fused nugget is formed in the location where the rivet shaft recess and the tip of the inner protrusion come into contact, and a first heat-insulating part including at least the resin layer is formed in the gap formed with the resin layer in between the inner protrusion and the outer panel.

An attachment for an end effector. The attachment may include a clamp and a foot adhesively bonded to an edge of the clamp and having a set of interlocking features that form a mechanical interlock with the clamp.

A joined sheet stack and a method and system for forming the stack are disclosed. The stack may include a steel sheet and a second sheet. The steel sheet may include a bulk portion having a first tensile strength and one or more fastener regions having a second tensile strength that is lower than the first tensile strength and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may extend through each fastener region joining the steel sheet to the second sheet. The method may include heat treating one or more regions of a steel sheet to form one or more fastener regions having a tensile strength that is lower than a bulk tensile strength of the steel sheet and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may then be inserted into the one or more fastener regions to join the steel sheet to a second sheet.