Fundamental studies on a novel die concept for round-point shear-clinching

• Main Authors: Hörhold, Réjane, Müller, Martin, Merklein, Marion, Meschut, Gerson
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Clinching; Ejection; Extrusion dies; High strength steels; Mechanical joining; Pretreatment; Shear; Slugs
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4963497

A newly-developed round-point shear-clinching technology could increase the use of different materials like well formable aluminium and hardly formable ultra-high-strength steels (UHSS). This innovative technology joins in a single-stage process without any pilot-hole, surface pre-treatment or auxiliary joining part. The combination of an inner and outer punch realises an indirect cutting operation of the die-sided material, whereas the punch-sided material remains unharmed. The current die-sided tool set acts as a cutting die and enables a radial extrusion of the punch-sided material after being drawn though the created hole in the UHSS. The die has a fixed die depth. After ejecting the joined components, the slug has to be removed from the top of the spring-loaded anvil. The novel die concept investigated in this paper offers the possibility to push the slug continuously through the die in the joining direction. The removed slugs remain inside the die, so manual removal is unnecessary. The one-parted tool is supposed to be more robust than the multi-parted one that is currently used. This paper represents the task to evaluate the geometry of a useful shear-clinching die concept. To reduce the experimental effort, FEM should assist the development of the most promising approach. To quantify the success, conventional shear-clinching with opening die acts as a reference. The results show the high potential and the raison d’être of shear-clinching technologies as a mechanical joining technology for future multimaterial applications especially for UHSS.