A method for joining by welding or gluing joining elements to components, with the following steps: preparation of a joining element, which comprises a first joining surface, and preparation of a component, which comprises a second joining surface; preparation of the first or second joining surface; and carrying out the joining process, in which the joining element is joined to the component; wherein the preparatory step comprises at least one of the following cleaning methods for cleaning the first or second joining surface: a TIG arc method, a plasma gas cleaning method, and a snow jet method.

Systems and methods for producing mesh from wires or rods with programmed changeable steps for the longitudinal and transverse wires. The longitudinal wires (1) and the transverse wires (12) may be fed from coils or be precut. The longitudinal wires are fed in receptacles (2) on carriers (3) with the carriers being found on prefeeder carrier (4), a feeder carrier (6) with grippers (7) transports them towards the welding heads (10) and the produced mesh (20) is received by a mesh carrier (14). The carriers (3) with the receptacles (2) for the longitudinal wires on the prefeeder carrier (4), the grippers for the longitudinal wires (7) at the feeder carrier (6) and the welding heads (10) are displaced in the direction of the transverse wire without restrictions, generally in an unrestricted fashion, so as to correspond to the longitudinal wires being subjected to welding. The transverse wires are fed towards the welding heads to be welded with the longitudinal wires. The machine produces meshes with openings, grouping the longitudinal wires in groups and feeding the groups of longitudinal wires towards the welding heads, adjusting the position of the related mechanisms to the position of the longitudinal wires.

Systems and methods for producing mesh from wires or rods with programmed changeable steps for the longitudinal and transverse wires. The longitudinal wires (1) and the transverse wires (12) may be fed from coils or be precut. The longitudinal wires are fed in receptacles (2) on carriers (3) with the carriers being found on prefeeder carrier (4), a feeder carrier (6) with grippers (7) transports them towards the welding heads (10) and the produced mesh (20) is received by a mesh carrier (14). The carriers (3) with the receptacles (2) for the longitudinal wires on the prefeeder carrier (4), the grippers for the longitudinal wires (7) at the feeder carrier (6) and the welding heads (10) are displaced in the direction of the transverse wire without restrictions, generally in an unrestricted fashion, so as to correspond to the longitudinal wires being subjected to welding. The transverse wires are fed towards the welding heads to be welded with the longitudinal wires. The machine produces meshes with openings, grouping the longitudinal wires in groups and feeding the groups of longitudinal wires towards the welding heads, adjusting the position of the related mechanisms to the position of the longitudinal wires.

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.

A method for fastening a metallic bushing (3) to a metallic component (2) includes forming a ring-shaped contact surface (5) on the bushing, forming an opening (6) in the component and providing a collar (7) extending circumferentially along the opening in the component and projecting on a mounting side (8) of the component. The mounting side is brought into contact and pressed in the area of the opening in the component such that the contact surface touches the collar. The bushing (3) is pressed on the mounting side (8) of the component in the area of the opening (6), so that the contact surface is in contact with the collar under prestress. With the contact surface (5) in contact with the collar under prestress, the bushing (3) and the component (2) are resistance welded together in the area of the contact between the contact surface (5) and the collar (7).

A method for fastening a metallic bushing (3) to a metallic component (2) includes forming a ring-shaped contact surface (5) on the bushing, forming an opening (6) in the component and providing a collar (7) extending circumferentially along the opening in the component and projecting on a mounting side (8) of the component. The mounting side is brought into contact and pressed in the area of the opening in the component such that the contact surface touches the collar. The bushing (3) is pressed on the mounting side (8) of the component in the area of the opening (6), so that the contact surface is in contact with the collar under prestress. With the contact surface (5) in contact with the collar under prestress, the bushing (3) and the component (2) are resistance welded together in the area of the contact between the contact surface (5) and the collar (7).

A component including at least one joint, at which a joining connection to a further component is to be formed later, is provided. A joining element having a holding section is pressed into the component, and the joining element also has a functional section, by way of which at least one further function can be implemented. The holding section of the joining element is arranged in a passage hole, and the passage hole is widened in at least one edge region by an embossing. The holding section of the joining element is pressed into the passage hole and is connected to the hole wall in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner and engages in the embossing. A component combination of at least two components which includes such a component and a method for producing the component and the component combination are also provided.

A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a first steel workpiece and a second steel workpiece. The method includes several steps. The first steel workpiece can have a first surface coating. One step involves applying a filler metal to a surface of the first steel workpiece. Another step involves bringing a surface of the second steel workpiece to adjoin the filler metal. Yet another step involves clamping a first welding electrode and a second welding electrode on the first and second steel workpieces. And another step involves passing electrical current between the first and second welding electrodes and hence through the filler metal. And yet another step involves terminating passage of the electrical current in order to establish a weld joint between the first and second steel workpieces.

A method of producing an endless metal ring by butting and welding ends of a steel plate includes a welding process in which, while the ends of the steel plate are heated at a temperature lower than a melting temperature, the ends are pressed against each other and welded by butt welding; and a heat treatment process in which heating is performed at an austenite transformation temperature or lower after the welding process.