Apparatus and Method for Inserting a Component Through the Surface of a Workpiece

A method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material showing friction-induced plasticity to attach said component to the workpiece, said component including an insert portion extending along an insertion axis of said component, at least an outer surface of said insert portion being made of a second material harder than said first material, said method comprising the steps of:

• i) providing a rotary tool having a body defining a shoulder portion provided with a deburring device capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body in a first rotation direction, to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction;
• ii) securing the component to the tool body;
• iii) rotating the rotary tool in the first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion of the insert portion along said axis by plasticizing the first material through friction at least until said shoulder portion is contacting said workpiece surface;
• iv) maintaining said axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce said attachment;
• v) releasing the component from the tool body;
• and
• vi) rotating the rotary tool in the opposite direction to provide deburring of said workpiece surface in contact with said shoulder portion following said attachment.

An apparatus for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material showing friction-induced plasticity to attach said component to the workpiece, said component having an insert portion extending along an insertion axis of said component, at least an outer surface of said insert portion being made of a second material harder than said first material, said apparatus comprising:

• a rotary driving unit;
• a rotary tool having a body being operationally coupled to the rotary driving unit and having a working end defining a shoulder portion;
• and
• a securing device provided on the tool body for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof upon operation of the rotary driving unit in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion of the insert portion along said axis by plasticizing the first material through friction at least until said shoulder portion is contacting said workpiece surface while maintaining said axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce said attachment;
• wherein said shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body in said first rotation direction, to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction by the rotary driving unit following disengagement of the securing device with said component, to provide deburring of said workpiece surface in contact with said shoulder portion following said attachment.