The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for setting a screw, in particular a flow drilling screw. In accordance with the method, the screw is driven at a first revolution speed and at a first axial feed force during a time-limited first phase to drive the screw through at least one component. In the event that the screw does not penetrate the component during the first phase, the screw is automatically driven at a second revolution speed that is higher than a first rotation speed and/or at a second axial feed force that is greater than a first axial feed force during a second phase subsequent to the first phase.

A method for joining dissimilar materials is provided. The method includes a solid-state joining process in which a rivet is plunged into a predrilled hole in a top workpiece. When the rivet contacts the bottom workpiece, ultrasonic vibration by oscillatory motion of a sonotrode, such as horizontal, vertical, or rotational motion, creates frictional heat at the interface between the rivet and the lower workpiece. With the aid of frictional heat and axial compression, metallurgical bonding is achieved at the interface between the rivet and the bottom sheet, while being below the melting temperature of the bottom workpiece. The sonotrode is retracted while the rivet remains.

Methods and devices for controlling a mechanical joining or forming process, in particular friction drilling in thin-walled materials, apply several reverse pulses acting on a process parameter to bring the course of an actual curve of the parameter more into line with the course of a predetermined nominal curve of the process parameter. The number and length of the reverse pulses and the length of the intervals between the pulses are determined as a function of at least one immediately detectable variable associated with the process parameter.

A coupling member head includes a holder configured to hold a coupling member at an end portion on a coupling target member side in an axial direction and configured to approach or separate from a coupling target member, a pair of electrodes, tips of the electrodes being positioned closer to the coupling target member side than a coupling member holding region of the holder, and a retraction mechanism configured to move the electrode to a radial outside of the holder when the holder approaches the coupling target member.

A method of reducing the cycle time required for flow-drill screw operations by providing a dimple on a part that is engaged by a flow-drill screw. A tip of the flow-drill screw engages a contact band at a location spaced from the tip of the distal end of the flow-drill screw and base portion of the dimple. Friction between the flow-drill screw tip and dimple creates a heat concentration area and results in displaced material fanning a threaded collar. The flow-drill screw is secured by the threads of the threaded collar.

A flowing drilling apparatus having a feed drive for producing a feed of a flow drill in an axial direction and having a rotary drive for producing a rotational movement of the flow drill. The flowing drilling apparatus includes a control device that is configured and adapted to control the feed drive and/or the rotary drive in accordance with a first set of parameters up to a defined switchover point and to control it/them in accordance with a second set of parameters differing from the first set of parameters, from the defined switchover point onward.

A joining method is a method of joining a plate set composed by a plurality of stacked plate members including a first plate member and a second plate member by using a tapping screw. When the tapping screw is advanced into the plate set while the tapping screw is rotated in a state of applying a pressure onto the plate set so as to form through-holes in the first plate member and the second plate member, a first pressure applied onto the tapping screw is reduced down to a second pressure at the time when the tapping screw penetrates the first plate member.

A flowing drilling apparatus having a feed drive for producing a feed of a flow drill in an axial direction and having a rotary drive for producing a rotational movement of the flow drill. The flowing drilling apparatus includes a control device that is configured and adapted to control the feed drive and/or the rotary drive in accordance with a first set of parameters up to a defined switchover point and to control it/them in accordance with a second set of parameters differing from the first set of parameters, from the defined switchover point onward.

A joining method is a method of joining a plate set composed by a plurality of stacked plate members including a first plate member and a second plate member by using a tapping screw. When the tapping screw is advanced into the plate set while the tapping screw is rotated in a state of applying a pressure onto the plate set so as to form through-holes in the first plate member and the second plate member, a first pressure applied onto the tapping screw is reduced down to a second pressure at the time when the tapping screw penetrates the first plate member.

A method produces a composite component from a first joining element and a second joining element by use of an adhesive and a flow drill screw. Before attaching the second joining element to the first joining element, a recess is made around the at least one screw position in which the respective flow drill screw penetrates the second joining element, in a joining surface of the second joining element.