Method for installing a self-piercing and self-clinching fastener

A method of permanently attaching a fastener to a plastically deformable panel, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing a circular fastener shearing edge in contact with a first surface of a panel;
• placing a die assembly in contact with a second surface of the panel that is opposite the first surface,
• wherein the die assembly comprises an outer shell in contact with the second surface of the panel, and the outer shell is concentrically disposed about an inner sleeve with an inner sleeve end face, and the inner sleeve is concentrically disposed about a center pin with a center pin end face, wherein the center pin end face and the fastener shearing edge are coaxial;
• driving the fastener shearing edge against the panel first surface with a pressing force in a first direction;
• driving the center pin end face against the panel second surface with a resisting force in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the center pin includes a flange that presses against an inner surface of the inner sleeve driving the inner sleeve end face against the panel second surface;
• penetrating the fastener shearing edge through the panel to create a hole so that the fastener shearing edge is disposed below the panel second surface, a perimeter of the hole being circumscribed by a bent portion of the panel that is displaced towards the die assembly;
• driving the fastener shearing edge, as the pressing force is applied, into a swage formed as a recess in the inner sleeve end face and thereby deforming the fastener shearing edge in the swage to bend the fastener shearing edge outwards along the swage and into contact with the second surface of the panel;
• and
• sandwiching the bent portion of the panel circumscribing the hole between the deformed fastener shearing edge abutting the second surface of the panel and a fastener flange formed on an outer surface of the fastener, the fastener flange abutting the first surface of the panel,
• wherein the step of driving the fastener shearing edge into the swage causes at least a portion of the center pin to enter a hollow opening of the fastener that is circumscribed by the fastener shearing edge.