A double ended hand tool created to pick up place and position flatback crystals, gems or other tiny items is disclosed. The tool contains a hollow, conical end which securely encases each crystal allowing the operator to easily position the crystal with no slip. The tool has a first end and a second end coupled by a shaft. The first end has a wax tip which allows the user to pick up crystals or other small items. The second end has a hollow narrow extended portion which allows the users to manipulate the crystal or other small items.

A process for producing a textured laminate sheet includes a) positioning a substrate material adjacent a barbed face of a metal sheet. The barbed face has a plurality of barbs, and the metal sheet has an opposed face opposite the barbed face. The process further includes b) forcing the metal sheet and the substrate material together to impale the substrate material on the barbs and secure the substrate material and the metal sheet together as a laminate sheet, and c) debossing the opposed face to form a plurality of depressions in the laminate sheet and texture the laminate sheet.

An assembly unit is produced according to the following method steps: an assembly part is provided which does not yet have a through bore. A disc-shaped welding element blank with a first end side, a second end side and a peripheral surface is stamped out of a sheet metal blank by a punch and a hole die so that the peripheral surface has a cylindrical longitudinal portion extending away from the first end side, and an adjoining cone portion which tapers towards the second end side and forms with this a cutting edge. The welding element blank is stamped with the cutting edge at the front into the assembly part to thereby form the through bore.

A clinch punch including a core and an sleeve that includes a plurality of teeth for forming an enhanced clinch joint. The core includes a first cam surface that engages cam surfaces on the teeth that drive the teeth into the sides of the clinch joint. In an alternative embodiment, the core acts upon jaws that are driven into engagement with the sides of the clinch joint.

An assembly for a vehicle and a method of making an assembly including more than three panels stacked together and joined by self-piercing rivets or by clinch joints. A first panel and a second panel are joined together at a first attachment point. A third panel and the first panel are joined together at a second attachment point. A fourth panel and the third panel are joined together at a third attachment point. The first, second and third attachment points are spaced apart to avoid interference between the self-piercing rivets or the clinch joints.

A method of joining substrates includes positioning the substrates on a die and pressing a self-piercing rivet until it penetrates into the bottom substrate and deforms the bottom substrate into a relief of the die defined by at least: a raised central portion, an outer portion disposed about a central axis of the die, a side surface disposed about the central axis, and an annular channel disposed about the central axis and disposed, in a radial direction, between the raised central portion and the outer portion. The side surface connects the outer portion to the top surface. The annular channel is recessed axially from the raised central portion and at least a part of the outer portion that is adjacent to the annular channel. The annular channel is radially inward of a toe of the self-piercing rivet after the deforming the bottom substrate into the relief.

A method of joining substrates includes positioning the substrates on a die and pressing a self-piercing rivet until it penetrates into the bottom substrate and deforms the bottom substrate into a relief of the die defined by at least: a raised central portion, an outer portion disposed about a central axis of the die, a side surface disposed about the central axis, and an annular channel disposed about the central axis and disposed, in a radial direction, between the raised central portion and the outer portion. The side surface connects the outer portion to the top surface. The annular channel is recessed axially from the raised central portion and at least a part of the outer portion that is adjacent to the annular channel. The annular channel is radially inward of a toe of the self-piercing rivet after the deforming the bottom substrate into the relief.