The system includes a ram assembly with fingers for grasping a fastener. An actuator moves the ram assembly toward the workpiece, under machine control. A housing member which is movable by the actuator includes a holding member for an anvil portion of the ram assembly, the holding member being movable within the housing member. The holding member and the housing member are arranged so there is a selected air gap between the movable member and the top of the housing at the start of the fastener cycle. An insertion sensor assembly changes signal state when the air gap begins to close. When the air gap begins to close either too early or too late relative to a properly positioned fastener, the actuator is stopped by the cycle motion controller.

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 joining method for setting a rivet in a workpiece comprises the steps of: providing a setting tool including a frame, a punch, a die, a clamping device, a drive unit, and a control device; providing a predetermined maximal rivet setting speed to the control device; providing the rivet and the workpiece; feeding the rivet into the setting tool; and setting the rivet in the workpiece, the setting step further comprising: moving the punch at a first punch speed; slowing the punch to a second punch speed before the rivet contacts the workpiece; and driving the rivet into the workpiece by moving the punch and monitoring the punch to ensure the punch does not exceed the predetermined maximal rivet setting speed.

A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the first object and the connector, the connector extending between a proximal end and a distal end and has a connector body that forms a distally facing punching edge. At least one of the connector and of the first object includes a thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method further includes driving the connector into the first object and coupling mechanical vibration into the connector until the connector extends through a portion of the first object from a proximal side to a distal side thereof and material of the first object is punched out by the connector body, and until at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows relative to the first object and the connector body while the connector body remains solid. Thereafter, the thermoplastic material is allowed to re-solidify.

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 method for connecting a first component to at least one second component by at least one joining element which is introduced into the components at a joining point. The joining element is pushed into the components by an industrial robot at a speed of less than five meters per second.

A method for setting blind rivet elements in which the setting of the respective blind rivet element introduced into a pre-hole of the work piece and/or the formation of a rivet collar takes place in a setting stroke (SH) through the permanent deformation of a section of the blind rivet element by subjecting an end of the blind rivet element to a traction force by a traction element of a setting tool while simultaneously supporting another end of the blind rivet element on a support part of the setting tool counter to the traction force.

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 swaging tool in which the pinhead of a fastening pin is positioned on one plate of a pair of plates through which the fastening pin is passed, the pintail of the fastening pin is positioned on the other plate, a collar mounted on the pintail side of the fastening pin is moved to the pinhead side so as to be brought into contact with the plate, the collar is swaged to the fastening pin in the state of contact with the plate, and a tensile load is applied to the pintail to break and remove the pintail, whereby the pair of plates are fastened; wherein the tool is provided with a swage die in which there is formed a swaging hole that is brought into contact with the collar to swage the collar, a low-friction coating film being formed on the inner peripheral surface of the swaging hole.

A method for configuring a hand-held riveting tool operated by an electric drive to set a blind rivet element in a setting operation. The hand-held riveting tool includes a mandrel configured to perform an axial movement so as to perform the setting operation of the blind rivet element, and a control unit which monitors the axial movement of the mandrel. The mandrel includes a front end position to which the blind rivet element is fitted in a form-locked manner and/or a force-locked manner. The method includes axially moving the mandrel from the front end position into a rear end position which is assumed at a beginning of the setting operation, and automatically adjusting the rear end position of the mandrel based on a parameter provided to the control unit.