Patent ID: 9381563
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: B21J,B29C,F16B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A joining method, comprising: rotating a fastener about a fastener axis, wherein the fastener includes a first head and a shank extending from the first head along the fastener axis; moving the fastener toward a first workpiece and a second workpiece while the fastener rotates about the fastener axis such that the fastener increases a temperature in the first and second workpieces in order to soften and pierce the first and second workpieces along the fastener axis; and advancing the fastener through the first and second workpieces and toward an open cavity of a die after piercing the first and second workpieces while the fastener rotates about the fastener axis such that the shank is partially disposed inside the open cavity in order to form a second head; and wherein the first workpiece is made of a first material, the second workpiece is made of a second material, and the fastener is made of a third material, the first material has a first softening temperature, the second material has a second softening temperature, the third material has a third softening temperature, and the third softening temperature is greater than the first and second softening temperatures.