Abstract: An insertion tool to be interfaced with a turret-type punch press, or the like, to insert fasteners, such as captive or clinch nuts, into holes in a sheet metal workpiece. The tool includes a canister assembly having a plurality of guide rods on which the captive nuts are stacked. The nuts are loaded from the guide rods into respective holes in a rotatable planetary gear of the canister assembly so that successive ones of said nuts can be axially aligned with an exit opening of the canister assembly to be forcibly ejected therethrough by a punch assembly. The punch assembly and planetary gear are moved relative to the exit opening by a reciprocating cam enclosure which is connected to the punch assembly and to which an impact force is applied from the press. The reciprocating movement of the cam enclosure is transferred to the planetary gear to rotate said gear by way of a motion translating assembly including a rotatable cam that is coupled to and rotated by said cam enclosure.

Abstract: A tapping attachment for threading a relatively large number of holes through a sheet metal part at a relatively low cost per hole. The tapping attachment includes a thrust bearing assembly which is aligned with a turret-type punch press or the like and movable in response to an axially directed force generated by the punch press. The axially directed force applied from the press to the thrust bearing assembly is transferred to a spline shaft. The spline shaft is rotated wihin and moved linearly relative to a screw threaded roller nut, whereby the axially directed force is converted into a rotating force for advancing and turning a tap at high speeds of rotation. A nitrogen reservoir is provided so that a supply of gas is available for returning the thrust bearing assembly and the spline shaft to their initial positions in order that a new hole can be tapped in response to another axially directed force.