A securing system, such as a welding system, includes a robot configured to transfer a part to a home position. A securing station has a frame and a gun supported on the frame. The gun includes first and second members movable relative to one another, which are first and second weld gun electrodes, for example. The gun is configured to secure a component to the part in a securing position during a securing operation. A float assembly interconnects the gun to the frame and is configured to permit the gun to glide relative to the welding frame between the home position and the securing position. A homing assembly includes a homing guide configured to release the welding gun from the home position during the securing operation, such as resistance welding fasteners to sheet metal workpieces.

A securing system, such as a welding system, includes a robot configured to transfer a part to a home position. A securing station has a frame and a gun supported on the frame. The gun includes first and second members movable relative to one another, which are first and second weld gun electrodes, for example. The gun is configured to secure a component to the part in a securing position during a securing operation. A float assembly interconnects the gun to the frame and is configured to permit the gun to glide relative to the welding frame between the home position and the securing position. A homing assembly includes a homing guide configured to release the welding gun from the home position during the securing operation, such as resistance welding fasteners to sheet metal workpieces.

A bolt feeder is for supplying a bolt to a resistance welding machine that performs resistance-welding of a workpiece and the bolt using a lower electrode. The bolt feeder comprises a holding unit configured to receive the bolt fed by a bolt feeding unit with a head located above a shaft, a moving unit configured to move the holding unit, and a pusher member configured to protrude from and retract into a tip end of the upper electrode. The bolt includes a projection on a top surface of the head which is opposite to a surface provided with the shaft. The lower electrode includes an insertion hole into which the shaft is inserted. The shaft is inserted into the insertion hole by the pusher member protruding from the tip end of the upper electrode and pushes an area of the top surface where the projection is absent.

A component supply device is configured to feed a component having a through hole to a target position. The component supply includes: a rod including at its distal end a holding portion to be inserted into the through hole; an actuator; a valve mounted on the rod; and a fixing portion by which the valve that advances with the rod passes. The rod includes a gas outlet located in an outer periphery of the holding portion and configured to blow gas rearward, and a gas passage extending inside the rod and configured to send gas supplied from a gas source to the gas outlet. The valve includes a push switch configured to be switched between an advanced attitude and a withdrawn attitude, and a biasing unit configured to bias the push switch to the withdrawn attitude. The fixing portion includes a pressing wall portion facing the push switch.

A welding electrode apparatus has an electrode base, and electrode tip, and a locking ring that clamps the tip to the base, and that, when released, permits the tip to be replaced when worn. The locking ring and electrode tip co-operate to define an accommodation for a machine fed nut. The locking ring has a non-electrically conductive end face, and stands proud of the tip of the electrode. The locking ring has an unobstructed outside peripheral face suitable for gripping and tightening or loosening with a wrench. The locking ring has an internal, annular fluid cooling gallery and inlet and outlet ports tapped into the gallery. The cross-section of the gallery is non circular. The wall thickness of the part is roughly constant. On assembly and installation, the locking ring clamps to the tip and base, and provides a thermal conduction heat path to each of them.

A welding electrode apparatus has an electrode base, and electrode tip, and a locking ring that clamps the tip to the base, and that, when released, permits the tip to be replaced when worn. The locking ring and electrode tip co-operate to define an accommodation for a machine fed nut. The locking ring has a non-electrically conductive end face, and stands proud of the tip of the electrode. The locking ring has an unobstructed outside peripheral face suitable for gripping and tightening or loosening with a wrench. The locking ring has an internal, annular fluid cooling gallery and inlet and outlet ports tapped into the gallery. The cross-section of the gallery is non circular. The wall thickness of the part is roughly constant. On assembly and installation, the locking ring clamps to the tip and base, and provides a thermal conduction heat path to each of them.

An example method for joining metals is described herein. The method can include forming an intermediate joint between a light metal member and a metal insert, where the intermediate joint is formed using a solid state welding process. The method can also include forming a primary joint between the light metal member and a high strength steel member, where the primary joint is formed using a welding process that produces coalescence at a temperature above the melting point of the light metal member and/or the high-strength steel member.

A conductor assembly includes a first conductor made of metal and a second conductor bonded to the first conductor. The second conductor is made of a metal plate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other. The second conductor has a projection locally projecting from the first surface. A recess is provided in the second surface of the second conductor opposite to the projection. The projection of the second conductor has a portion contacting and entering into the first conductor. The projection of the second conductor is resistance-welded to the first conductor. The portion of the projection of the second conductor has two tips locally projecting from the portion of the projection of the second conductor and entering the first conductor.

A conductor assembly includes a first conductor made of metal and a second conductor bonded to the first conductor. The second conductor is made of a metal plate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other. The second conductor has a projection locally projecting from the first surface. A recess is provided in the second surface of the second conductor opposite to the projection. The projection of the second conductor has a portion contacting and entering into the first conductor. The projection of the second conductor is resistance-welded to the first conductor. The portion of the projection of the second conductor has two tips locally projecting from the portion of the projection of the second conductor and entering the first conductor.

An electrode for the projection welding of a weld nut to a workpiece has an electrode welding head with parts including a replaceable welding interface disc fitted therein. The electrode can be disassembled so that the conductive electrode interface within the welding head may be replaced when it becomes worn.