Apparatus for fastening a functional element to a section of a workpiece

A method of fastening a functional element to a section of a workpiece and/or of reshaping a section of the workpiece using an apparatus comprising a support device for supporting the workpiece, wherein the workpiece section has a first surface facing the support device and a second surface facing away from the support device,

• wherein the support device comprises a first support element having a first workpiece support surface that is associated with the first surface, and a second support element having a second workpiece support surface that faces away from the first workpiece support surface and that is associated with a supporting surface;
• wherein the first and the second support element are movable relative to one another by means of a spreading device such that the first and the second workpiece support surface can be moved away from one another in an axial-direction, and
• wherein the support device comprises a first intermediate element that is arranged between the first workpiece support surface and the first surface, and/or wherein the support device comprises a second intermediate element that is arranged between the second workpiece support surface and the supporting surface,
• comprising the steps:
• positioning the workpiece and/or the support device such that the workpiece section is arranged adjacent to the first intermediate element and the workpiece support surface of the first support element;
• actuating the spreading device until the first workpiece support surface is—directly or indirectly—in contact with the first surface and the second workpiece support surface is—directly or indirectly—in contact with the supporting surface;
• and
• moving a punch in the axial direction toward the second surface to fasten the functional element to the workpiece section and/or to reshape the workpiece section or moving the functional element by means of a setting device in the axial direction toward the second surface to fasten the functional element to the workpiece section.