A stud for fastening an attachment element to an underlying surface is provided, having a shank that defines a fastening direction, having a sealing element for sealing off a contact zone between the shank and the underlying surface, and having a force transmission element for transmitting compressive forces from the attachment element to the underlying surface.

A stud for fastening an attachment element to an underlying surface is provided, having a shank that defines a fastening direction, having a sealing element for sealing off a contact zone between the shank and the underlying surface, and having a force transmission element for transmitting compressive forces from the attachment element to the underlying surface.

Provided are a three-dimensional shaped object production device and method capable of producing a predetermined three-dimensional shaped object by forming a ball at a leading end of a conductive wire through use of the conductive wire based on scanned data or designed data and aligning and stacking the balls. The three-dimensional shaped object production device includes: a plate (40), on which a three-dimensional shaped object is placeable; a ball forming section configured to form a ball (13) by applying high voltage between a leading end of a conductive wire (4) paid out from a leading end of a capillary (12) and a spark rod (19) and melting the leading end of the wire by discharge energy; a positioning device configured to position the plate and the ball forming section by moving the plate and the ball forming section relative to each other; and a bonding section configured to bond the ball formed at the leading end of the capillary to another ball (14) that has already been stacked on the plate, the forming of the ball by the ball forming section, the relative moving of the plate and the ball forming section by the positioning device, and the bonding of the ball formed at the leading end of the capillary to the another ball by the bonding section is repeated, to thereby produce a three-dimensional shaped object having a desired shape.

A method for joining joining elements to components, in particular for stud welding, comprises the steps of: providing a joining element having a first joining surface, and providing a component having a second joining surface; preparing the first or the second joining surface, wherein the preparation step includes detecting the state of the first or the second joining surface; joining the joining element to the component. The preparation step uses least one of the following detection methods: (i) an electrical contact resistance measurement, (ii) an electrical conductivity measurement, (iii) a fluorescence measurement, and (iv) a laser measurement.

A method for evaluating a welded between a first component and a second component comprises the steps of: bringing a first electrical pole into contact with the first component and bringing a second electrical pole into contact with the second component with the welded joint in between the first and the second pole; applying a first electrical quantity to the welded joint such that an electrical current (i) flows through the welded joint; measuring a second electrical quantity at the first and the second pole; comparing a measured value (.sub.F; U.sub.F) of the second electrical quantity with a reference value (.sub.0; U.sub.0); and evaluating the welded joint on the basis of the comparison step.

A method for evaluating a welded between a first component and a second component comprises the steps of: bringing a first electrical pole into contact with the first component and bringing a second electrical pole into contact with the second component with the welded joint in between the first and the second pole; applying a first electrical quantity to the welded joint such that an electrical current (i) flows through the welded joint; measuring a second electrical quantity at the first and the second pole; comparing a measured value (.sub.F; U.sub.F) of the second electrical quantity with a reference value (.sub.0; U.sub.0); and evaluating the welded joint on the basis of the comparison step.

The invention provides an ignition flux for arc stud welding, including 30-55 wt % SiO.sub.2, 30-55 wt % NiO, 10-35 wt % AlF.sub.3, and 5-25 wt % NiF.sub.2, or including 30-55 wt % TiO.sub.2, 30-55 wt % NiO, 10-35 wt % AlF.sub.3, and 5-25 wt % NiF.sub.2. As such, the electric arc can be easily created and smoothly formed. The invention further provides an arc stud welding method utilizing such ignition flux. As such, the fastener and the metal workpiece can be tightly connected together without the need of inserting an ignition tip into the welding portion of a fastener.

The invention provides an ignition flux for arc stud welding, including 30-55 wt % SiO.sub.2, 30-55 wt % NiO, 10-35 wt % AlF.sub.3, and 5-25 wt % NiF.sub.2, or including 30-55 wt % TiO.sub.2, 30-55 wt % NiO, 10-35 wt % AlF.sub.3, and 5-25 wt % NiF.sub.2. As such, the electric arc can be easily created and smoothly formed. The invention further provides an arc stud welding method utilizing such ignition flux. As such, the fastener and the metal workpiece can be tightly connected together without the need of inserting an ignition tip into the welding portion of a fastener.

An apparatus and method for forming a wear resistant stud for a vehicle. The method comprising providing an elongate threaded stud member having a top surface, locating a body of tungsten carbide on the top surface, surrounding the body of tungsten carbide with a weld pool and while the weld pool is hot, slowly cooling the weld pool. The apparatus comprises an elongate threaded stud member having a top surface, a body of tungsten carbide on the top surface and a weld pool surrounding the body of tungsten carbide and the top surface of the stud member wherein the weld pool is slowly cooled from a hot applied state.

A device for holding a stud with a radially flange and an axial shank. The holding device comprising a collet including a clamping section and a hollow insertion section defining an insertion axis such that the stud can be inserted via the insertion section to the clamping section. The holding device further comprising a tubular securing sleeve located radially inward of and concentric with the insertion section. A clearance is defined between a bottom end of the securing sleeve and a top end of the clamping section and is adapted to releasably receive the stud flange. A first air flow channel in a first direction is adapted to blow feed the stud into the collet; and a second airflow channel oriented in a second different direction is adapted to maintain the stud shank substantially in line with the insertion axis.