Self-piercing clinch fastener installation press

A clinching press for performing a clinching operation to secure a fastener to a workpiece, the fastener clinching press comprising:

• a frame supporting a die having a hole configured to cooperate with the fastener to produce a slug from the workpiece;
• a ram having a head assembly configured to engage the fastener;
• a first sensor configured to determine a ram position relative to the die;
• a pin slidably supported within the head assembly and extending out of the head assembly to a tip that is configured to locate a fastener relative to the die, the pin movable between multiple pin positions including a slug-eject position;
• a second sensor arranged in the head assembly and operatively connected to the pin, the second sensor configured to monitor the multiple pin positions relating to a pin travel distance signature;
• and
• a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller is configured to determine an outcome of the clinching operation based upon the ram position and the pin travel distance signature.