Patent ID: 7339133

Claim:
A stud welding method for welding a stud held retained in a stud holding device of a stud welding head to a workpiece, comprising the steps of: a) providing a workpiece; b) providing a footless welding head; c) positioning the footless welding head in relation to the workpiece, thereby establishing a predetermined distance including moving the stud holding device towards the surface of the workpiece at least until a face of the stud holding device contacts the surface of the workpiece and then separating the stud holding device from the workpiece a predetermined distance between the face of the stud holding device and the surface of the workpiece; d) supplying a stud to the footless welding head; e) verifying the presence of the stud in the footless welding head; and f) performing a welding operation if the stud presence is verified.