Device for setting a setting element in a component

An apparatus for setting a setting element comprising a first plastic material in a component comprising a second plastic material, the apparatus comprising:

• a rotary feed unit by which the setting element can be set into rotation about an axis of rotation and simultaneously an axial force acting in the direction of the axis of rotation can be exerted onto the setting element to drive the setting element into the component while producing a friction welding connection between the setting element and the component;
• a differential distance measuring device for measuring a differential distance between a surface of the component and a surface of the driven setting element;
• and
• a control unit for controlling the rotary feed unit in dependence on the measured differential distance, wherein the control unit is configured to control the rotary feed unit such that on reaching a predefined differential distance, representing a maximum penetration depth of the setting element in the component comprising the second plastic material, the setting element is rotated before the end of a setting procedure over a predetermined period of time with an axial force reduced to approximately zero.