A method of manufacturing a laminated iron core includes performing at least two kinds of selectively-actuated punching processes by actuating respective punching units to form a plurality of iron core pieces, each of the punching units being switchable between an active state or a non-active state, and caulking and laminating the plurality of iron core pieces to manufacture the laminated iron core. The selectively-actuated punching processes are performed in one operation by selectively actuating each of the punching units between the active state and the non-active state.

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.

An integrated hot stamping structure formed by integrally coupling a plurality of blanks and hot stamping-molding the integrated blanks, may include a reinforcing member disposed in a hot stamping area of a predetermined strength reinforcing portion configured for absorbing a shock and reinforcing local rigidity of the strength reinforcing portion.

This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for production of a workpiece. A first workpiece part is cut free from a first plate-shaped material by a separating cut made via the punch-handling tool. The first workpiece part is held in at least one of a clamped manner and tensioned manner via at least one of an upper tool and a lower tool of a punch-handling tool while being cut free. The workpiece part is aligned with the first plate-shaped material, a further plate-shaped material that differs from a material of the first workpiece part, and a second workpiece part and the aligned pieces are clinching with a clinch tool to connect the pieces at a connection point that is free from a filler material.

In the present invention, a method for joining members involves preparing a steel component having a bottom wall in which a hole is provided, and a hollow aluminum pipe. The aluminum pipe is slipped through the hole in the steel component and passed through the bottom wall, rubber is inserted into the interior of the aluminum pipe, and the rubber is compressed in the direction of the axis (L) of the aluminum pipe and induced to distend towards the outside from the inside. As a result of the foregoing, at least a section of the aluminum pipe slipped through the hole is induced to undergo expansion and is joined by clinching to the bottom wall. This method for joining members reduces the load on the members, improves the joint strength, and enables two members to be joined at reduced cost.

A can end including a central panel and a coined rivet disposed on the central panel. A press, a station, and/or a tooling assembly structured to form a coined rivet as well as a method to form the coined rivet is also provided.

Methods, systems and apparatus for producing composite fiber/metal workpieces. In one aspect, a method includes locating a metal workpiece on a workpiece support of a machine tool, processing the metal workpiece located on the workpiece support to produce one or more shaped features on the metal workpiece, fitting a fiber fabric to the metal workpiece in a region of the shaped features, and connecting the fiber fabric to the metal workpiece in at least one of a non-positive-locking connection or a positive-locking connection to produce a composite fiber/metal workpiece.

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.

An electrically insulating cage nut (10) having a nut body (12) which is held in a cage (14), in which the nut body (12) has a cylindrical attachment (16) and a broadened holding element (18), and the cylindrical attachment (16) has an internal thread (20) and extends through an opening (22) in the cage (14) to the outside, wherein the internal diameter of the opening (22) is substantially larger than the external diameter of the cylindrical attachment (16), but is smaller than the external size of the holding element (18), and an insulator apparatus (24) is arranged between the cage (14) and cylindrical attachment (16), wherein the insulator apparatus (24) is formed integrally, and in consequence the cage nut (10) consists of only three components (12, 14, 24).

Panel assemblies, unformed panel assemblies, and methods for forming panel assemblies are provided. A panel assembly includes a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis, a first side panel extending from the main panel generally along a Z-axis, and a second side panel extending from the main panel generally along the Z-axis. The panel assembly further includes a first tab extending from the first side panel and including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the first side panel generally along the X-axis, the second portion extending from the first portion generally along the Z-axis such that a slot is defined between the second portion and the first side panel. The panel assembly further includes a second tab extending from the second side panel generally along the Y-axis and through the slot.