A method for joining by welding or gluing joining elements to components, with the following steps: preparation of a joining element, which comprises a first joining surface, and preparation of a component, which comprises a second joining surface; preparation of the first or second joining surface; and carrying out the joining process, in which the joining element is joined to the component; wherein the preparatory step comprises at least one of the following cleaning methods for cleaning the first or second joining surface: a TIG arc method, a plasma gas cleaning method, and a snow jet method.

A portable stud welder apparatus is provided for welding a stud onto a work piece. The portable stud welder apparatus includes a housing and an energy storage device. A weld stud gun that is configured to hold a weld stud is electrically connected to the energy storage device for receiving energy from the energy storage device to pass a current through the stud and the work piece to form a weldment. At least one battery of the lithium ion type that is removeably coupled to the housing to establish an electrical connection with said energy storage device and provide energy to the energy storage device.

A control unit and method for a joining system having at least one joining station, which is designed to join at least one first joining element to a workpiece, determines actual data with respect to a first joining element joined to a current workpiece by the joining station. The control unit and method determine, in accordance with the actual data, a subsequent control instruction for the joining station for joining a first joining element to a subsequent workpiece.

A component filling device and a component filling method are provided which, with a configuration that does not involve contact with the workpiece during a stud gun welding operation, can fill a component supply device with a prescribed number of components from a component feeding device. The component filling device (a stud filling device) is provided with: a component storage unit (a tube) which, inside of a component storage hole (the tube hole), can store a prescribed number of components (studs) aligned from a stopping unit towards the top; and a switching mechanism which comprises multiple moving bodies (balls), which can move between a position contacting a component and a position not contacting the component, and a lock unit (a rotation member), which restricts the moving bodies from moving, wherein the switching mechanism can switch between a state in which the stopping unit stops the components and a state in which the components are allowed to pass.

Provided are a stud supply device and a stud supply method with which a stud can be supplied to a welding electrode in the correct orientation. The stud supply device comprises: a magazine in which a predetermined number of studs can be aligned and stored in series inside a magazine hole from a stop part to one end side; switching mechanisms having a plurality of balls that can move between a position contacting the studs and a position not contacting the studs, and a reciprocating member that restricts the movement of the plurality of balls, the switching mechanisms switching between a state in which the studs are stopped at the stop part and a state in which the studs are allowed to pass; and a first air injection part that is provided more on the one end side than the stop part, and that injects air from the one end side to the stud stopped at the stop part.

A welding element is operable for being connected to a workpiece using a welding method. The welding element comprises: a head and a shaft like anchor portion. The head includes a welding surface, a stop surface that is remote from the welding surface, and a plurality of pointed projections evenly and uniformly distributed over the entire welding surface. The shaft-like anchor portion extends along a longitudinal axis between a first end region and a second end region, with the first end region connected to the stop surface.

Device (10) for manufacturing a component compound by resistance welding, comprises a welding electrode (12) for transmitting an electric current to a joining element (17) and for exerting a joining force onto the joining element (17) along a joining direction (22) in order to establish a connection of the joining element (17) with a structural element by resistance welding; as well as a positioning device (20) for positioning at least one joining element (17) on the axis of the joining direction (22) in order to contact and particularly apply a force to the joining element (17) by means of the welding electrode (12). The positioning device (20) comprises a retention device (30) for exerting a retention force onto the joining element (17), wherein the retention device (30) is movably arranged.

Disclosed is an apparatus for welding a weld stud to a substrate, comprising a welding gun which includes a casing and a stud holder for the weld stud, further comprising a gas container and a gas line for conducting gas from the gas container to the stud holder, the gas container being supported by the welding gun.

A portable stud welder apparatus is provided for welding a stud onto a work piece. The portable stud welder apparatus includes a housing and an energy storage device. A weld stud gun that is configured to hold a weld stud is electrically connected to the energy storage device for receiving energy from the energy storage device to pass a current through the stud and the work piece to form a weldment. At least one battery of the lithium ion type is removeably coupled to the housing to establish an electrical connection with said energy storage device and provide energy to the energy storage device.

A method for joining by welding a weld stud to a workpiece, with the following steps: providing a drawn arc welding device and a plasma gas cleaning device; providing a weld stud and providing a workpiece including a joining surface; cleaning the joining surface using a plasma gas cleaning method including the cleaning steps of: generating in the plasma gas generating device a non-transferred arc, generating with the non-transferred arc a plasma from a compressed gas, and directing the plasma onto the joining surface to remove contaminants thereon; and then, after the cleaning steps, joining the weld stud to the workpiece by drawn arc welding using the drawn arc welding device including forming of a transferred electric arc between the weld stud and the joining surface.