Punch for a ductile material joining tool

A punch assembly for use in a tool for joining ductile materials, comprising a punch, and a punch holder to which the punch may be removably secured, in which the punch comprises a punch body formed around a punch axis, two punch tips extending in opposite directions from the punch body along the punch axis, each punch tip having a punch surface that extends transversely to the punch axis, wherein the punch body has one or more load engagement features by which a punch force for joining ductile materials may be imparted to the punch body along the punch axis so that one or the other of the punch tips may bear against said ductile material, and the punch holder comprises a load application feature that in. use imparts via the load engagement feature said force to the punch body along the punch axis, wherein the punch can be removably secured to the punch holder in either a first orientation or alternatively in a second orientation to dispose respectively one or the other of the punch tips for use to join ductile materials by application of said imparted force along the punch axis.

A ductile material joiner for joining two or more layers of ductile material, comprising a die and a punch assembly with a punch tip disposed in use towards the die, wherein the die has a die aperture matching the punch tip, and the punch assembly comprises a punch, and a punch holder to which the punch may be removably secured, in which the punch comprises a punch body formed around a punch axis, two punch tips extending in opposite directions from the punch body along the punch axis, each punch tip having a punch surface that extends transversely to the punch axis, wherein the punch body has one or more load engagement features by which a punch force for joining ductile materials may be imparted to the punch body along the punch axis so that one or the other of the punch tips may bear against said ductile material, and the punch holder comprises a load application feature that in use imparts via the load engagement feature said force to the punch body along the punch axis, wherein the punch can be removably secured to the punch holder in either a first orientation or alternatively in a second orientation to dispose respectively one or the other of the punch tips for use to join ductile materials by application of said imparted force along the punch axis.

A method of servicing a punch assembly for use in a tool for joining ductile materials, the punch assembly comprising a punch, and a punch holder to which the punch may be removably secured, in which the punch comprises a punch body formed around a punch axis, two punch tips extending in opposite directions from the punch body along the punch axis, each punch tip having a punch surface that extends transversely to the punch axis, wherein the punch body has one or more load engagement features by which a punch force for joining ductile materials may be imparted to the punch body along the punch axis so that one or the other of the punch tips may bear against said ductile material, and the punch holder comprises a load application feature that in use imparts via the load engagement feature said force to the punch body along the punch axis, with the method comprising the steps of:

• i) removing the punch from the punch holder when the one of said punch tips disposed for use to join ductile materials has become worn or damaged;
• ii) returning the punch to the punch holder with the relative orientation of the punch to the punch assembly altered so that the other of said punch tips is disposed for use to join ductile materials.