The modular pin spotting system described herein allows a common welding source to be utilized with both hand held pinspotters and fixed pinspotters. This allows the operator to choose the mode of operation for the welding source based on operator needs. In some aspects, the pin spotting system includes a mobile welding source, a ground handpiece, a handheld pinspotter apparatus, and a fixed pinspotter apparatus. The welding source is removably attachable to either of the hand held pinspotter apparatus and fixed pinspotter apparatus and configured to supply welding energy to the attached pinspotter apparatus. Each of the hand held and fixed pinspotter apparatus are configured to energize the mobile welding source to supply welding energy to a weld pin positioned against a sheet metal surface to affix the weld pin to the sheet metal surface through welding.

A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion, and is configured to fit a flange outer peripheral portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with an inclined guide surface. The close contact of the flange with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.

A welding gun and a welding method with which it is possible to reduce, the wait time for loading a component and to decrease tact time. The welding gun is a welding gun for resistance-welding components to a workpiece successively, and comprises a first holding portion and a second holding portion for holding a component. The first holding portion and the second holding portion are each switchable to an abutment-enabling position for causing a component to abut against a workpiece, or to a loading-enabling position for loading the component. The first holding portion and the second holding portion are switchable such that when the first holding portion is in the abutment-enabling position, the second holding portion is in the loading-enabling position, and when the second holding portion is in the abutment-enabling position, the first holding portion is in the loading-enabling position.

A projection portion is formed on a distal end surface of a supply rod with which a surface of a flange is to be brought into close contact. A circular-arc receiving surface fitting an outer peripheral portion is formed at a boundary portion between the distal end surface and the projection portion. One side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with the distal end surface, and another side of the circular-arc receiving surface is continuous with a regulation inner surface formed on the projection portion in a state of being opposed to the distal end surface. With this, a receiving groove is formed, and a control gap is defined between the regulation inner surface and the flange. The close contact of the surface with the distal end surface is achieved with a magnet of an advancing/retreating type provided in the supply rod.

A light module projects multiple light beams onto an installation surface to form multiple light indicia spaced apart in a pattern on the installation surface, with the light indicia identifying installation locations on the installation surface where construction mounts are then installed. Embodiments include systems in which the light module includes a light emitter that projects a source light beam and a diffractor that diffuses the source light beam into the multiple light beams, systems in which the light module is adjustably mounted to and movable with a handheld tool used to install the construction mounts, systems in which the light module is adjustably mounted to a static-use support, and methods of using these systems to install the construction mounts.

PILASTER MOUNTING STUD FOR KEYHOLE has a predetermined amount of material protruding on one side which is used during a resistance welding process to create a permanent bond between the PILASTER MOUNT STUD FOR KEYHOLE and a sheet metal surface. This allows the PILASTER MOUNT STUD FOR KEYHOLE to have an application of a mounting provision for a load bearing weight.

A collet assembly including an actuator and a collet connected to the actuator. The collet assembly is adapted to be installed on a welding electrode holder having an electrode. The collet is moveable by the actuator from an advanced position, in which the collet is adapted to grip a fastener such as a welding rivet, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted into the actuator to enable the electrode to engage the fastener for welding to a work piece, and the collet is adapted to release the fastener.

A method for sensing the presence of a fastener in a feeder and fastening system for joining a fastener to a workpiece comprises a head with a receiving element for receiving the fastener, a joining drive element, a feeder for feeding fasteners from a magazine to the receiving element, a feeding tube adapted to receive fasteners from the magazine and through which the fasteners are driven to the receiving element by compressed air. The feeder further includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of compressed air flowing through the feeding tube and a microprocessor for processing and computing the pressure to detect the presence or passage of a fastener in the feeding tube.

An apparatus for welding a welding stud to a specified location of a base material, comprising a stud holder, comprising an inert gas cover, which surrounds the stud holder while forming a gap between the stud holder and the inert gas cover, and comprising a projection device, which is intended to project a visual pattern onto the base material through the gap.

A setting welding device is set forth for setting stud-like auxiliary joining parts in a plurality of layers of material and subjecting them to a mechanical-thermoforming process on a second layer of material and connecting them to said second layer by way of a welding operation. For this purpose, the punch is used to apply to the welding auxiliary joining part mechanical and thermal loads that follow prescribed characteristic force and current curves. Furthermore, a corresponding connecting method that can be realized with the aid of the setting welding device is also disclosed.