A power tool comprising: a motor; a fastener gripping portion operatively coupled to the motor for causing movement of the fastener gripping portion between a home position and a retracted position to set a fastener; a home position sensor for generating output indicative that the fastener gripping portion has reached the home position during a reset stage of operation in which the fastener gripping portion is moved towards the home position; and a controller for receiving motor turn information indicative of the number of turns of the motor and for monitoring the position of the fastener gripping portion based on the motor turn information and the output generated by the home position sensor.

A riveting system, for use in mechanically linking adjacent workpieces, including a rivet having a height greater than a sum of thicknesses, measured along a line of riveting, of the workpieces being linked, so that the rivet can pass fully through the workpieces. The system also includes a riveting die, which may be a separate product. The die includes a protrusion extending from a peak toward a transition point; and a trough having a trough surface. The trough surface includes a trough inner wall, extending from the transition point to a trough bottom, and a trough outer wall, extending from the trough bottom to a trough outer edge. The technology also includes computerized systems for comparing a load-displacement profile of riveting to a pre-set profile to determine whether the riveting was performed properly.

A dimpled substrate for use in an assembly having joined substrates is provided that defines at least one preformed interior cavity, at least one preformed exterior profile adjacent the interior cavity and defining a wall therebetween, and at least one locating feature configured to identify a location of the at least one preformed exterior profile. In one form, the locating feature is disposed in the preformed exterior profile or adjacent to the preformed exterior profile. Alternatively, the locating feature is a notch formed into the dimpled substrate away from the preformed exterior profile.

A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

A method includes identifying a location of a locating feature disposed on an exterior profile of a lower substrate, the locating feature configured to identify a specified location of the exterior profile, positioning a self-piercing rivet along an upper substrate according to the identified location of the locating feature, and installing the self-piercing rivet through the upper substrate and into the lower substrate.

A system and method for drilling a hole in a vehicle structure and installing a fastener in the hole. A drill plate having openings and associated machine-readable elements is positioned on the structure. A drill gun is positioned in a particular opening and reads hole information from the associated element, and a computer determines whether the drill gun is properly set-up to drill the hole. A fastener insertion gun is positioned in the particular opening and reads fastener information from the element, and the computer determines whether the hole has been drilled and, if so, whether the fastener insertion gun is properly set-up to insert the fastener. A fastener delivery subsystem stores, tracks, and delivers fasteners to the fastener insertion gun. A system computer monitors the drilling of every hole, the insertion of every fastener, and the overall operation of the fastener delivery subsystem.

A system and method for drilling a hole in a vehicle structure and installing a fastener in the hole. A drill plate having openings and associated machine-readable elements is positioned on the structure. A drill gun is positioned in a particular opening and reads hole information from the associated element, and a computer determines whether the drill gun is properly set-up to drill the hole. A fastener insertion gun is positioned in the particular opening and reads fastener information from the element, and the computer determines whether the hole has been drilled and, if so, whether the fastener insertion gun is properly set-up to insert the fastener. A fastener delivery subsystem stores, tracks, and delivers fasteners to the fastener insertion gun. A system computer monitors the drilling of every hole, the insertion of every fastener, and the overall operation of the fastener delivery subsystem.

A data display method of a test instrument for a rivet nut setting tool is disclosed. When the rivet nut setting tool is operated, a value of a pull force detected by the pull-force detector is transmitted to the first display area through a circuit module, and a first display area displays variation of the value of the detected pull force in waveform, and the first display area also displays an upper-limit waveform value, a waveform data unit, a current value and a historical maximum value; when the rivet nut setting tool is operated continuously, the first display area displays a continuous waveform, and the second display area displays historical data and average values of maximum pull force values.

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.