Patent ID: 7313852

Claim:
A method of forming a rivet to join a plurality of members utilizing a riveting apparatus including a force applying mechanism having a hydraulic cylinder and a piston, a forming assembly having upper and lower forming devices, a pressure transducer operatively coupled to the hydraulic cylinder to provide a pressure signal, a position transducer operatively coupled to the piston to provide a linear position signal, and a controller operatively coupled to the pressure transducer and the position transducer to compare the pressure signal and the linear position signal and generate an axis motion profile, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the plurality of members between the upper and lower forming devices; providing the rivet to be formed disposed through the plurality of members; extending the piston to urge the upper forming device towards the lower forming device; monitoring the pressure signal while extending the piston; monitoring the linear position signal while extending the piston; comparing the pressure signal and the linear position signal; generating the axis motion profile to determine whether the linear position of the piston and the pressure of the hydraulic cylinder are within predetermined set limits; and controlling the piston based on the axis motion profile.