A process monitoring method for monitoring the joining of at least two workpieces by means of a self-piercing riveting device having a joining gun including a) a total sheet metal thickness, a rivet length and a bending constant of the joining gun are detected for a plurality of joining operations for each operation before joining; b) a punch path for a certain force, an end force, a path end value for the end force, a setting path of the rivet, and a rivet head end position are detected for the plurality of joining operations; c) a force/path window for the joining operations is determined; and d) a determined force/path window of one additional joining operation is compared to the force/path window of the joining operations determined in step c), and the additional joining operation is monitored so that any joining-related defects are identified.

A die for deforming a workpiece material in a joining tool comprises a head with a top side partially defining a cavity in which the workpiece material is to be deformed, a bottom side opposite the top side, a lateral side arranged between the top side and the bottom side, and a stem which extends along a longitudinal axis from the bottom side of the head. The die further comprises an identification tag, preferably an RFID tag, having an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a signal, and a storing element for storing information, and the antenna is wrapped circumferentially around the head, such that the antenna entirely surrounds the head. The head may also include a groove extending around the head on the lateral side with the antenna arranged in the groove. Additionally, the die may include a recess with the storing element located in the recess.

An assembly includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a self-piercing rivet. The lower substrate defines a preformed interior cavity and a preformed exterior profile adjacent the interior cavity to define a variable thickness wall. The self-piercing rivet extends through the upper substrate and into the preformed interior cavity of the lower substrate.

A bolt setting method and device for a nail-shaped bolt with a head and a shaft, ending in a tapered manner. The bolt setting method includes: joining the bolt into a component with a deforming stroke during which the bolt reaches a first joining speed of ≤4 m/s and the shaft completely penetrates the components with a portion of a maximum diameter with respect to a shaft length, without a bottom side of the head abutting the at least one component, and after the deforming stroke, driving the bolt into the at least one component until a head abutment of the bottom side of the head on the at least one component by at least one friction stroke with which a frictional connection between the shaft and the components is overcome and with which the bolt reaches a second joining speed that is smaller than the first joining speed.

A system is provided for attaching a layer of a metal to other layers in a material stack-up using a metal mechanical fastener that does not allow for direct contact between the fastener and the metal layer, thereby neutralizing any galvanic reaction between the metal sheet and the fastener and avoiding corrosion. The metal layer may be any of several metals, including magnesium. The fastener is a rivet, a screw or a bolt. The disclosed inventive concept uses an insulating layer to insulate the magnesium layer. In one embodiment, a layer of a thin metal is formed over the insulating layer. Where the fastener is a rivet and the metal is magnesium, the insulating layer and thin metal provide a barrier between the magnesium layer and the rivet prongs following rivet insertion, thus isolating the rivet. The system enables a greater application of fastener joining, particularly with magnesium and mixed material joining.

A localized annealing process and a part having localized areas with increased ductility produced by the process. The part is formed of hard material, tempered, and/or otherwise hardened such that it meets minimum hardness and ductility requirements. The part further includes localized areas that have increased ductility for workability, which could include various types of deformation. The localized annealing process includes providing a part with low levels of ductility and then annealing localized areas of the part for increased ductility that will need to be machined or attached to another formed part. The annealing process includes placing an electrode on either side of the localized area and generating electricity through the localized area. The material in the localized area is then heated from the electricity to form a more ductile physical structure.

A metal fastening or joining apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a single piece die guard includes an integral die shield section and an integral retainer section, wherein a die anvil can be removed, and the die shield section has a low height and a small lateral square width. A further aspect employs a generally square peripheral shape for a die shield within which is an anvil and movable die blades, which are operable to fasten or join sheet metal workpieces together in an interlocking manner. In still another aspect, a projecting and/or peripheral orientation structure is on a backside of a workpiece fastening die assembly which allows for anvil reorientation without the need to also reorient a laterally surrounding die shield and retainer.

A nose arrangement for a fastener setting tool having a punch for setting fasteners comprises a support that receives the punch and a nosepiece for guiding the punch and a fastener during a fastener setting operation. The nose arrangement defines first and second fastener transfer areas where wait to be transferred under the punch. A transfer mechanism transfers the fasteners from the first and second fastener transfer areas under the punch and comprises a movable member that can be moved between first and second configurations. In the first configuration the movable member holds a first fastener in a stand-by position under the punch while it collects a second fastener from the first fastener transfer area. In the second configuration, the movable member holds the second fastener in the stand-by position while it collects a third fastener from the second fastener transfer area.

According to a first aspect of the application, there as provided a method of forming a riveted joint comprising a UHSS layer and a non-UHSS layer using a self-piercing rivet comprising a head and a shank, an outer diameter of a top of the shank being greater than an outer diameter of a bottom of the shank before insertion of the rivet, the method comprising pushing the self-piercing rivet into the UHSS layer such that the lower portion of the shank flares outwards and cuts a slug from the UHSS, and pushing the flared shank of the self-piercing rivet and the slug into the non-UHSS layer such that the non-UHSS layer deforms into a die recess and flows around an outer surface of the flared shank.

A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there. Furthermore, an auxiliary joining part is claimed.