A method for direct screwing, in particular flow hole screwing, includes producing a hole in a first stage in a structural component without cutting and forming a thread with a flow hole screw in a second stage. A feed and feed force are produced by a non-pneumatic feed drive and transmitted to a screw shaft rotated by high feed force and high rotational speed in the first stage and at a defined switchover point with penetration of the structural component a switchover is made to the second stage with lower feed force and slower rotational speed. A drive parameter correlated to the feed force, especially a motor current of an electric motor of the feed drive, is monitored and a characteristic change of this parameter is defined as switchover point. A rapid switchover with process stability is attained and damage to the flow hole screw thread is avoided.

Disclosed are a friction rivet for joining a non-steel material and a steel material and a joining method using the same, wherein inserts are applied to the friction rivet and, thus, the friction rivet doesn't need to be replaced according to materials of a lower plate and damage to an upper plate caused by penetration into the upper plate by the friction rivet may be repaired.

A method for direct screwing, in particular flow hole screwing, includes producing a hole in a first stage in a structural component without cutting and forming a thread with a flow hole screw in a second stage. A feed and feed force are produced by a non-pneumatic feed drive and transmitted to a screw shaft rotated by high feed force and high rotational speed in the first stage and at a defined switchover point with penetration of the structural component a switchover is made to the second stage with lower feed force and slower rotational speed. A drive parameter correlated to the feed force, especially a motor current of an electric motor of the feed drive, is monitored and a characteristic change of this parameter is defined as switchover point. A rapid switchover with process stability is attained and damage to the flow hole screw thread is avoided.

A rivet with improved structure for forming flat-bottom riveting of plates, which comprises a rivet cover, a rivet shoulder and a rivet body; specifically, the rivet cover is provided with a torque transmission structure and a positioning structure for driving the rivet to rotate; the rivet body comprises an inner cavity of the rivet body, an outer wall of the rivet body and an end of the rivet body; with the present invention, the bottom surface of the joint can be flush with the surface of the connected plates, which facilitates the subsequent processing of the coverage on the bottom surface, reduces the wind resistance coefficient of the joint, and broadens the application range of the process.

A method and device are provided for directly screwing together at least two components using a self-drilling and tapping screw which has a head and a shank formed onto the head with a self-tapping thread section and a hole-drilling section for flow drilling. The components are held pressed against one another by a holding down clamp while the screw is screwed in. The holding down force, with which the holding down clamp presses the components against one another while the screw is screwed in, is varied.

A joining method for joining a first member having a hole that is opened on at least one surface, to a second member including a material of which a melting temperature is lower than that of a constituent material of the first member, includes: laminating the second member on the first member so as to cover an opening of the hole; and introducing that material of the second member which is softened or melted into the hole through the opening and curing the material of the second member.

A method of installing a flow drill screw (FDS) into a substrate includes engaging the FDS with an automatic tool, operating the tool at a first setting to drive the FDS into the substrate by causing flow of the substrate to permit the FDS to penetrate the substrate, and switching the automatic tool from the first setting to a second setting in response to a controller analyzing axial acceleration data of the FDS. The first setting is configured to rotate the FDS at a first rotational speed and to apply a first axial feed force. The first setting is further configured to cause flow of the substrate to permit the FDS to penetrate the substrate. The second setting is configured to rotate the FDS at a second rotational speed and to apply a second axial feed force. The second rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed.

A method and device are provided for simplifying a flow-drill screwing process. Based on work performed during the process, a process variable E is formed. This variable is compared to analogously formed comparison values in order to be able to determine the proper or faulty running of the process.

A method of installing a flow drill screw (FDS) into a substrate includes engaging the FDS with an automatic tool, operating the tool at a first setting to drive the FDS into the substrate by causing flow of the substrate to permit the FDS to penetrate the substrate, and switching the automatic tool from the first setting to a second setting in response to a controller analyzing axial acceleration data of the FDS. The first setting is configured to rotate the FDS at a first rotational speed and to apply a first axial feed force. The first setting is further configured to cause flow of the substrate to permit the FDS to penetrate the substrate. The second setting is configured to rotate the FDS at a second rotational speed and to apply a second axial feed force. The second rotational speed is less than the first rotational speed.

A heat assisted friction stir welding system and fastener for use therewith allows the joining a variety of dissimilar materials, including joining composites and plastics to metal, in which the fastener becomes part of the bond. The fastener can be constructed from multiple materials, allowing for the joining of dissimilar metals. Heating the materials to be joined reduces the clamping force and torque required by the friction stir weld process. The result is a bond that is stronger with less energy input.