Method of anchoring a first object in a second object

A machine for anchoring a first object comprising a first material being a thermoplastic material in a solid state in a second object of a second material that has pores and is thereby penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state, the second object having two opposed sides and an end face extending between the opposed sides, the second object having a blind hole with a mouth only in the end face, the blind hole and the mouth being arranged directly between the opposed sides;

• the machine comprising:
• an insertion mechanism configured to move an insert portion of the first object in a first direction through the mouth and at least partially into the blind hole,
• an anchoring tool configured to anchor the first object in the blind hole by transferring energy to the first object, in an amount and for a time sufficient for liquefaction of the first material and interpenetration of the first and second materials by the first material filling at least some of the pores of the second material in a vicinity of the blind hole;
• and
• a clamping mechanism including two clamping elements that engage the two opposed sides to exert a clamping force to the two opposed sides and thus clamp the second object between the two clamping elements, the clamping force being applied along an axis that is perpendicular to the first direction, the clamping force being applied to the second object during the inserting or during the anchoring or both,
• wherein the machine is configured such that the blind hole is directly between the clamping elements and the axis intersects with the blind hole when the clamping force is applied, and while the insertion mechanism inserts the insert portion or while the anchoring tool transfers the energy or both.