Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method for a composite structure that makes it possible to join a thermoplastic resin molding, which serves as a second member for reinforcement, while at the same time preventing the deformation of a first member to be reinforced. The second member contains magnetic substances in a portion thereof that is to be abutted on the first member. The second member is introduced into an induction heating unit and subjected to induction heating, thereby heating the abutting portion of the second member to join the second member to the first member.

Abstract: There is provided a nut having a thread portion having a female thread, a metallic plate portion having a base segment, and a hardness gradient portion provided between the thread portion and the metallic plate portion. The thread portion, metallic plate portion and the hardness gradient portion are monolithic each other, a metallographic structure of the metallic plate portion differs from a metallographic structure of the thread portion and a hardness of the hardness gradient portion is lower than a hardness of the thread portion and lowers from the thread portion toward the metallic plate portion.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method for a composite structure that makes it possible to join a thermoplastic resin molding, which serves as a second member for reinforcement, while at the same time preventing the deformation of a first member to be reinforced. The second member contains magnetic substances in a portion thereof that is to be abutted on the first member. The second member is introduced into an induction heating unit and subjected to induction heating, thereby heating the abutting portion of the second member to join the second member to the first member.

Abstract: There is provided a nut having a thread portion having a female thread, a metallic plate portion having a base segment, and a hardness gradient portion provided between the thread portion and the metallic plate portion. The thread portion, metallic plate portion and the hardness gradient portion are monolithic each other, a metallographic structure of the metallic plate portion differs from a metallographic structure of the thread portion and a hardness of the hardness gradient portion is lower than a hardness of the thread portion and lowers from the thread portion toward the metallic plate portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a processing system and a processing method such that the production cost in a workpiece processing line is reduced and that a workpiece is processed efficiently. A robot 11 has an arm 23 at the tip of which the processing machine 12 is installed, and a robot base 22 on which the arm 23 is installed. The robot base 22 is installed on a robot movement mechanism 14, and said robot movement mechanism 14 moves the robot 11. A robot control device 16 performs movement control of the arm 23, and also executes movement control on the robot movement mechanism 14. By way of movement control of the robot movement mechanism 14, the robot control device 16 executes control wherein the robot 11 is moved independently of the continuous conveyance of the workpiece 2 by the continuous conveying mechanism 20.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bonded product, and a manufacturing method and manufacturing device therefor. To obtain a bonded product formed of a solidified material of a molten metal which has been poured into a forming mold with a workpiece, all or part of which is already held therein, or formed of a semi-solidified slurry which is contained in the forming mold together with the workpiece, the semi-solidified slurry or the molten metal is relatively made to flow on the end faces of the workpiece while friction sufficient to break the passive state existing at the surface of the molten metal or the semi-solidified slurry is generated between the workpiece and the semi-solidified slurry or the molten metal.

Abstract: There is provided a nut having a thread portion having a female thread, a metallic plate portion having a base segment, and a hardness gradient portion provided between the thread portion and the metallic plate portion. The thread portion, metallic plate portion and the hardness gradient portion are monolithic each other, a metallographic structure of the metallic plate portion differs from a metallographic structure of the thread portion and a hardness of the hardness gradient portion is lower than a hardness of the thread portion and lowers from the thread portion toward the metallic plate portion.

Abstract: A thread forming device 10a is provided with a thread forming tool 32 for forming a thread portion 14 at a frame 12, a first motor 38 for controlling to rotate the thread forming tool 32, and a second motor 40 for controlling to extract and retract the thread forming tool 32. Further, the thread forming tool 32 is provided with a pilot hole forming portion 86 provided with a spiral groove 80b at a front end portion 80 in a taper shape, and a thread forming portion 84 constituted continuously to the pilot hole forming portion 86 and provided with a spiral groove 84b.

Abstract: A recess portion with a substantially circular cross-section is provided in the upper end surface of a supporting jig. When a probe of a device for friction stir welding is buried in the upper end surface of a layered portion, material in the vicinity of the buried portion flows plastically. This causes the plastically flowed material to flow into the recess portion, and as a result, the material is stirred in a relatively large region. When the material that flowed into the recess portion is cooled and solidified, a friction stir-welded portion-possessing member having a projection portion is obtained.

Abstract: A thread forming device 10a is provided with a thread forming tool 32 for forming a thread portion 14 at a frame 12, a first motor 38 for controlling to rotate the thread forming tool 32, and a second motor 40 for controlling to extract and retract the thread forming tool 32. Further, the thread forming tool 32 is provided with a pilot hole forming portion 86 provided with a spiral groove 80b at a front end portion 80 in a taper shape, and a thread forming portion 84 constituted continuously to the pilot hole forming portion 86 and provided with a spiral groove 84b.

Abstract: Electrodes are embedded respectively in a first die and a second die. A metal workpiece is placed in a cavity defined between the first die and the second die which mate with each other. Then, a molten metal is poured through a passage into the cavity. The molten metal is solidified into a casting, forming a contact region of the metal workpiece and the casting. Thereafter, an electric current is supplied from a power supply between the electrodes across the contact region. The supplied electric current breaks an oxide film that is present on the surface of the metal workpiece, and joins the metal workpiece and the casting in the contact region.

Abstract: A recess portion with a substantially circular cross-section is provided in the upper end surface of a supporting jig. When a probe of a device for friction stir welding is buried in the upper end surface of a layered portion, material in the vicinity of the buried portion flows plastically. This causes the plastically flowed material to flow into the recess portion, and as a result, the material is stirred in a relatively large region. When the material that flowed into the recess portion is cooled and solidified, a friction stir-welded portion-possessing member having a projection portion is obtained.

Abstract: When a workpiece which is made up by laminating a plurality of plates of different thicknesses is welded by using a spot welding gun having a pair of electrode tips, the electrode force to the workpiece by one of the electrode tips, which is positioned on the side of a thinner plate, is made larger that the electrode force to the workpiece by the other of the electrode tips. The contact pressure on the side of the thinner plate becomes larger with the result that the contact resistance decreases. Therefore, the nugget on the side of the thinner plate becomes smaller than the nugget on the side of the thicker plate.

Abstract: A device for confirming an open state of a welding gun having a reciprocating mechanism or moving a movable electrode into and out of contact with a workpiece has a pin feeler mounted on an end of a cylinder of the reciprocating mechanism and movable into and out of contact with a piston movably disposed in the cylinder. The device also has a helical compression spring for resiliently biasing the pin feeler, a housing accommodating the biasing means, and a proximity switch fixedly mounted in the housing. When the piston moves in a direction to open the welding gun, the piston presses and moves the pin feeler until an end of the pin feeler is detected by the proximity switch to confirm the open state of the welding gun. The open state of the welding gun can be detected without being adversely affected by dust and dirt particles, grease, and a mist in the cylinder. The device can be assembled highly efficiently.

Abstract: An arm main body of a welding gun is formed of an aluminum alloy. An anodic oxide coating is formed on an entire surface of the arm main body. The arm main body is then machined to remove the anodic oxide coating formed on a power feeing terminal portion and an electrode tip connecting portion which are provided in the arm main body. The anodic oxide coating may be subjected to a sealing treatment with a dispersion liquid in which a magnetic material is mixed in dispersion. Alternatively, the arm main body formed of an aluminum alloy may be subjected to an anodic oxide coating treatment with a treatment liquid in which a magnetic material is mixed in dispersion.

Abstract: A resistance welding apparatus mounted on a robot arm includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings. Two gun arms supporting respective welding electrodes in confronting relation to each other are relatively movable toward and away from each other. Conductors extending from the secondary winding are electrically connected to one of the welding electrodes through one of the gun arms, and the transformer is supported on said one gun arm. Rectifiers are used which have terminals engaging said one gun arm and opposite terminals engaging the conductors. The rectifiers and the conductors are securely joined to the one gun arm.

Abstract: A transformer apparatus for use with a welding gun includes four transformer/rectifier assemblies each including a transformer having a secondary winding and a rectifier, a terminal plate connected to the secondary winding through the rectifier, and a center tap terminal plate connected to an intermediate portion of the secondary winding. The terminal plate and the center tap terminal plate are disposed on one side of the transformer, and the transformers of the transformer/rectifier assemblies are disposed side by side. The terminal plates of the transformer/rectifier assemblies are disposed closely to each other in confronting relation. First and second conductive bodies interconnect the terminal plates and the center tap terminal plates of the transformer/rectifier assemblies. The transformer/rectifier assemblies are symmetrically disposed.