Patent ID: 8082647

Claim:
A method for first determining the optimal insertion force for installing clinch fasteners into a deformable host material, comprising the steps of: selecting a sample fastener from a work batch of said fasteners all of the same type; monitoring the time, insertion velocity and insertion force of said fastener into a host material as it is deformed during a setup test run of a fastener press, comprising the steps of: selecting a constant insertion velocity to be maintained throughout the installation process regardless of the force required; applying an insertion force through a force range; measuring the force required during the installation process to maintain the selected insertion velocity; comparing the insertion force throughout said setup force range to the elapsed insertion time to obtain a force slope; capturing a data point force on the force slope at which the force slope abruptly increases; and recording the data point force as the optimal attachment force; installing the other fasteners of the work batch into the same type of host material while continuously monitoring the insertion force; and stopping the installation process of each of the other fasteners when the insertion force is observed to equal to the data point force.