One aspect is an apparatus including a node having a socket configured to receive a component and a detachable additively manufactured nozzle co-printed with the node and arranged for adhesive injection between the component and the socket. Another aspect is an additively manufactured apparatus including a first additively manufactured component having an area configured to receive a second additively manufactured component. The first component includes an adhesive channel for injecting adhesive into the area when the second component is being connected to the first component. Another aspect is an apparatus including a plurality of additively manufactured components each having an adhesive injection channel. The components are connected together such that adhesive injection channels are aligned to form an adhesive path that allows adhesive flow between the components.

A resistance spot welding method may involve spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a steel workpiece and an aluminum alloy workpiece that overlap one another to provide a faying interface. A pair of opposed welding electrodes are pressed against opposite sides of the workpiece stack-up with one welding electrode contacting the aluminum alloy workpiece and the other welding electrode contacting the steel workpiece. The welding electrodes are constructed so that, when an electrical current is passed between the electrodes and through the workpiece stack-up, the electrical current has a greater current density in the steel workpiece than in the aluminum alloy workpiece to thereby concentrate heat within a smaller zone in the steel workpiece. Concentrating heat within a smaller zone in the steel workpiece is believed to modify the solidification behavior of the resultant molten aluminum alloy weld pool in a desirable way.

A spot welding system comprises a robot which changes a relative position of a spot welding gun and a workpiece. A control device drives an electrode drive motor so that a movable electrode of the spot welding gun abuts on the workpiece, and is formed so as to perform a position detection control which detects a position of the workpiece based on a position of the movable electrode when a state value of the electrode drive motor deviates from a predetermined range. An operation program includes a workpiece detection parameter for performing the position detection control. The workpiece detection parameter is set at each of welding points in the operation program.

A pressing unit presses a plurality of electrodes housed in a housing path in a housing case toward an electrode outlet port. When a lever member swings to one side, a distal end of the lever member comes to be in a first position in which the lever member covers a part of the electrode outlet port. When the lever member swings to the other side, the lever member comes to be in a second position in which the distal end exposes the electrode outlet port. A first coil spring is disposed between a proximal end of the lever member and a first side surface portion of the housing case, and biases the proximal end of the lever member to a direction away from the housing case.

A forged rivet for joining dissimilar materials includes a disc-shaped head and a shank. The shank includes: a first shank portion extending from the head; a ring-shaped protruding portion that protrudes outward at the lip of the first shank portion; and a second shank portion, the cross-sectional area of which is smaller than the first shank portion and which extends further in the direction of the tip from the protruding portion. On the surfaces of the shank and the head, surfaces that contact a light alloy material when the rivet is driven into the light alloy material, a coating film with a higher electrical resistance than steel is formed.

A forged rivet for joining dissimilar materials includes a disc-shaped head and a shank. The shank includes: a first shank portion extending from the head; a ring-shaped protruding portion that protrudes outward at the lip of the first shank portion; and a second shank portion, the cross-sectional area of which is smaller than the first shank portion and which extends further in the direction of the tip from the protruding portion. On the surfaces of the shank and the head, surfaces that contact a light alloy material when the rivet is driven into the light alloy material, a coating film with a higher electrical resistance than steel is formed.

A method can be used to produce a component from a sandwich material in sheet or strip form, which sandwich material comprises at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The method may involve at least partially heating the sandwich material along an edge region to soften the plastic in the edge region. The plastic may then be substantially completely displaced out of the edge region by exerting a force on at least one of the metallic surface layers. In this way a plastic-free edge region is produced in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points. Further, a component comprised of a sandwich material may include at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The sandwich material may have, at least along one edge, a plastic-free region in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points.

A method of welding comprising contacting a first electrode to a porous body flow path, contacting a second electrode to a plate material, pressing the porous body flow path and the plate material by the first and second electrodes in a thickness direction of the plate material, and spot welding the porous body flow path and the plate material, wherein: a deformation of the plate material in a direction of the second electrode pressing the plate material is smaller than a deformation of the porous body flow path in a direction of the first electrode pressing the porous body flow path.

A method for determining a quality of at least one aluminum weld comprises detecting a force exerted on a workpiece by at least one electrode, and determining at least one factor characterizing the quality on the basis of a comparison of the detected force with at least one reference value. An aluminum welding method, a welding device set up for a corresponding operation, a welding controller and a computer program are likewise the subject matter of the disclosure.

A method for determining a quality of at least one aluminum weld comprises detecting a force exerted on a workpiece by at least one electrode, and determining at least one factor characterizing the quality on the basis of a comparison of the detected force with at least one reference value. An aluminum welding method, a welding device set up for a corresponding operation, a welding controller and a computer program are likewise the subject matter of the disclosure.