A method of fastening at least one second object to at least one first object, wherein mechanical vibration acts from a sonotrode on the second object to fasten the second object to the first object. Between the sonotrode and the second object, an auxiliary sheet is placed, for example of paper. After the vibration stops, the auxiliary sheet is displaced relative to the sonotrode for a next fastening step.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A method for joining dissimilar materials includes forming a first recess and a second recess by irradiating a surface of a first member with laser light, the first recess and the second recess being cut into the surface obliquely at angles different from each other, and joining the second member to the surface of the first member with a part of the second member engaging with each of the first recess and the second recess by melting the part of the second member lower in melting point than the first member to cause the part of the second member to flow into each of the first recess and the second recess and solidifying the part of the second member.

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for establishing a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shaping matching or for separating such a connection of at least one metal or ceramic component and of a component formed from or by a thermoplastic polymer in which the components to be joined together can be pressed together by a pressing device having a counterholder and a plunger. A heating device is present at the plunger and/or at the counterholder or acts there. A heating of the at least one metal or ceramic component up to above the softening temperature of the component formed from or by polymer can be achieved with the heating device, with the heating device being having at least one electrical resistance heating element that is covered by an electrically insulating, preferably ceramic, protective film, and/or having at least one laser beam that is directed to the metal component(s) within the joining region, and/or having at least one inductor present at the plunger and/or at the counterholder for the inductive heating of the meal component(s).

A method of bonding a second object to a first object includes: providing the first object having a thermoplastic liquefiable material in a solid state; providing the second object having a surface portion that has a coupling structure with an undercut, so that the second object is capable of making a positive-fit connection with the first object; pressing the second object against the first object with a tool that is in physical contact with a coupling-in structure of the second object while mechanical vibrations are coupled into the tool; continuing to press and couple vibrations into the tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material of the first object is liquefied and flows into the coupling structures of the second object; and letting the thermoplastic material re-solidify to yield a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects by the re-solidified flow portion interpenetrating the coupling structures.

A new ultrasonic aided laser joining method (UAL) for bonding dissimilar materials has been developed. The method is capable of eliminating the laser-induced bubbles at the bonding faces and to improve the joint strength over that of the conventional laser-assisted metal and plastic joining method (LAMP). Some experiments on joining titanium to polyethylene terephthalate have been conducted to show the superiority of UAL over LAMP. The results showed that the joint strength, measured in terms of failure load, was significantly increased when ultrasonic vibration was employed during laser joining. For the LAMP joined specimens, fracture normally occurred at the metal-plastic interface, whereas for the UAL joined specimens, fracture normally occurred in the parent plastic part. The improvement in joint strength is mainly due to the elimination of pores in the resolidified plastic. In addition, ultrasound vibration promotes chemical bonding between the plastic and metal parts, and this is supported by the XPS results.

A pressing device for a laser welding apparatus includes an arm member with opposite mounting and pressing ends. A pressing pad at the pressing end has an opening for allowing a laser beam to irradiate a workpiece assembly that is being pressed by the pressing device. The mounting end has a mounting structure for detachably securing the pressing device to the laser welding apparatus. The arm member is shaped to position the opening at a known fixed distance from a laser source of the laser welding apparatus. The pressing pad has a pressing surface on a workpiece-facing side thereof for applying a joining force to the workpiece assembly at a welding location. At least one of the size, shape and smoothness of the pressing surface allows a sliding-contact movement of the pressing surface along a surface of the workpiece assembly during application of the pressing force.

A connector, which is configured to be anchored in a first object with thermoplastic material, defines a proximodistal axis and has a plate portion extending around the proximodistal axis and having a proximal face and a distal face, the proximal face being adapted for a tool to be pressed thereagainst. The connector further includes an attachment structure accessible from the proximal side of the plate portion and/or an interaction element having a sensor and/or actuator. An anchoring skirt protrudes distally from the plate portion and distally and radially outwardly, whereby an outer pocket open towards radially outwardly is formed between the distal face of the plate portion and a proximal face of the anchoring skirt, and an inner pocket open towards distally is formed radially inwardly of the anchoring skirt. The plate portion extends radially further than the anchoring skirt.

A method for manufacturing a composite panel is described. The method includes producing a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall from composite materials including an oxide matrix and long oxide fibres; from the first and second walls, producing a cellular core including a plurality of cells, each cell including a first end and an opposing second end, covering the first and second ends of the cells of the cellular core with the third wall and the fourth wall, respectively, so as to close the ends of said cells.