At least one caulking group (13) that includes a plurality of caulking parts (14, 15) with different directions is formed on a plurality of thin plates (10) placed in a stacked state to fix the position of the stacked thin plates (10), and then a preset punching process is performed with respect to the thin plates (10) that have been positioned with pilot holes (12). This makes it possible to perform a high-accuracy punching process when punching the plurality of thin plates (10) placed in a stacked state, since positional deviations between the thin plates (10) are avoided and pilot pins (11) are prevented from deforming the periphery of the pilot holes (12).

A sheet metal component that is made of a press-hardened steel sheet material and is to be used as a vehicle body component for a motor vehicle, is provided. The sheet metal component has at least one overhardened component region which is provided to act as a predetermined breaking point in the event of being subject to a crash load. A component assembly and a motor vehicle body, which have at least one such press-hardened sheet metal component, are also provided.

A cavity (20) provided for a die body (2) at one side thereof in an axial direction includes a cavity bottom surface (21), on which a protrusion (40) jutting toward the one side in the axial direction is formed. A tip end face (41) of the protrusion (40) is configured as a flat surface extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction and having a predetermined width (W1) in a radial direction. The predetermined width (W1) of the tip end face (41) is set to be 10% or more of a diameter (Di1) of the cavity (20) at an open end thereof.

Apparatus (20) and a method for securing a clinch nut (24) to an AHSS sheet (26) as an assembly (22). In one embodiment, a parallel kinematic machine (PKM) (88) sequentially performs the operation, while another embodiment includes a nut ram assembly (112) that attaches clinch nuts (24) to the AHSS sheet (26), and a further embodiment includes a C frame (114) that supports the apparatus and is moved by a robot (130) to sequentially attach clinch nuts (24) to the AHSS sheet (26) at different locations. The attachment of the clinch nuts is performed in a light-safe manner.

An improved electro-hydraulic clinching system involves generating, through a high potential electric shock, a forceful wave in a fluid such as water, and applying the force of the wave to a sheet of metal. The force of the wave results in deforming the sheet and making the sheet material move through a hole in a second sheet adjacent to the first sheet, thus joining the two sheets. In an alternative implementation, in which neither sheet includes an opening, the force of the wave moves both sheets simultaneously, thereby causing them to join together at the point of impact.

A clinching machine and method for using a clinching machine are provided. In another aspect, a hand-held clinching machine and method employ a movable jaw, a cam wedge, and a rocker arm to control opening and closing movement of the clinching jaw. Another aspect of a clinching machine and method includes a movable clinching jaw, a fluid activated piston, a manually actuated switch which causes fluid actuated rotation of a lever, a manually actuated trigger to fluidically advance a piston and a block attached to a forward end of a piston rod, and an abutting stop surface movable with the movable jaw, where the stop surface abuts against the lever in an operating condition to limit opening rotation of the movable jaw to an intermediate position between a fully open position and a fully closed and clinching position.

A joining device, in particular a self-piercing rivet tool, is disclosed that is operated with the assistance of different drive steps. These drive steps comprise at least one movement step with a fast punch speed, and a power step with a low punch speed and strong punch force. In combination with the joining device, a clamping device module is use that, based on the at least one spring in the clamping device module, generates discernible threshold values in the force/punch path diagram, with the assistance of which a switchover between different drive steps of the joining device is activated. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a joining method for the above-described joining device.

The invention provides a hot press machine which reduces the cooling time of a superposed member and enhances the productivity. A hot press machine of the invention includes a first die, a second die disposed on the first die, a first refrigerant flow passage for guiding a refrigerant into the first die or the second die, a plurality of grooves formed in a press forming surface of the first die or the second die, and a second refrigerant flow passage for guiding a refrigerant into the grooves. The hot press machine performs press forming and quenching by pressing a superposed member between the first die and the second die, the superposed member comprising a first steel sheet and a second steel sheet superposed and joined on the first steel sheet.

A die is supported in a die holder such as a frame or an adapter supported in a frame such that it is operational use in a material deforming operation. One or both of the die and the die holder have at least one gas passage which is substantially closed by at least part of the die. Gas such as pressurised air is directed into an end of the gas passage opposite the die via a hose connected to a gas source. If the die is broken or loose leak paths are available for the escape of gas past the die to or from atmosphere. A pressure sensor connected to the hose detects the change in pressure of the gas and the magnitude of that pressure is used to determine the die condition. Alternatively a flow rate sensor is used to detect a change in the flow rate of the gas in order to determine the condition of the die.

A system for automatically forming sheet metal tubes from blanks cut to size. The system having a mechanism for positioning a blank for processing. A lifting arrangement having a wrap strap and pressure pad to raise the blank to a forming station having a mandrel is positioned so that the wrap strap extends on either side of said mandrel and underneath the blank before a side wiper on each side of said mandrel forces the overlap of opposite edges of the blank along a length of the mandrel. The mandrel includes a clinching die bar along its length. A sealing mechanism with a vertically movable row of clinching prongs is lowered to attach the overlapping edges of the blank by clinching at multiple positions to form a tube around the mandrel before being removed by a gag bar and a stripper plate.