Patent ID: 7464454

Claim:
A method for setting a self-tapping rivet of the type having a hollow rivet body and a mandrel disposed longitudinally within the hollow rivet body, the mandrel including a self-tapping head for forming a hole in a work piece and radially compressing and spreading the rivet body as the mandrel is retracted rearward relative to the rivet body and a shank having an area of reduced diameter for allowing the head to detach from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank, the method comprising: receiving the shank of the self-tapping rivet; gripping and turning the shank for rotating self-tapping head to form a hole in a workpiece; and retracting the mandrel rearward relative to the rivet body for compressing and spreading the rivet body and thereafter separating the shank at the area of reduced diameter, wherein the self-tapping rivet is set in the work piece.