Head height & material measurement

A computer-implemented method of determining a property of a fastener, the method comprising:

• receiving a stored deflection factor, the stored deflection factor relating a deflection of a fastener setting tool to the peak force exerted by the fastener on a die;
• receiving a determined peak force, the determined peak force corresponding to the peak force exerted by a punch of the fastener setting tool on the fastener;
• receiving a determined thickness of a work piece;
• receiving a determined position of a top surface of the fastener;
• and
• determining the head height, HH, of the fastener as:
• HH
• =
• (
• DF
• ×
• PF
• )
• -
• MT
• +
• ED
• wherein:
• DF is the stored deflection factor;
• PF is the determined peak force;
• MT is the determined thickness of the work piece;
• and
• ED is the determined position of the top surface of the fastener.

A computer-implemented method of determining a property of a work piece and/or a fastener setting tool, the method comprising:

• causing a blank holder of the fastener setting tool to advance such that the blank holder moves to a calibration position;
• measuring, with a first sensor configured to measure a displacement of the blank holder, a position of the calibration position along an axis travelled by the blank holder;
• causing the blank holder to advance such that the blank holder contacts a surface of the work piece and clamps the work piece against the die;
• measuring, with the first sensor, a position of the surface of the work piece;
• determining, using the measured position of the calibration position and the measured position of the surface of the work piece, a thickness of the work piece.