Abstract: A method for producing an overlap composite material from sheet metal is described, wherein a first sheet of a first metal and a second sheet of a second metal, which has a lower strength than the first metal, are positioned one above another in an overlapping manner in an edge region, and are then joined by rolling. The first sheet has a wedge-shaped edge in cross-section. The second sheet is to be positioned with its edge on a side surface of the first sheet formed by the wedge-shaped edge. The side surface formed by the wedge-shaped edge of the first sheet has a greater width than the side surface of the edge of the second sheet positioned on the said side surface of the first sheet, and, after positioning, the sheets are joined by rolling.

Abstract: A welding apparatus for joining a weldable fastening element onto a workpiece by a welding process, wherein the welding apparatus comprises: an electric welding power source; a fastening element holding device for holding the fastening element during welding; a first drive device for moving the fastening element holding device along a first axis; a cleaning electrode holding device for holding a cleaning electrode along a second axis; and wherein the cleaning electrode is connectable to the electric welding power source. The fastening element holding device and the cleaning electrode holding device are mounted on a common tool carrier and the tool carrier is movable on a joining head by a tool carrier drive from a joining position to a cleaning position, and in the joining position the first axis defines a joining axis, and in the cleaning position the second axis is aligned with the joining axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the dry fluxing of at least one component and/or solder surface via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for removing oxides from the surface of a component comprising: providing a component on a substrate wherein the substrate is grounded or has a positive electrical potential to form a target assembly; passing a gas mixture comprising a reducing gas through an ion generator comprising a first and a second electrode; supplying an amount of voltage to at least one of the first and second electrodes sufficient to generate electrons wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas and form a negatively charged reducing gas; and contacting the target assembly with the negatively charged reducing gas to reduce the oxides on the component.

Abstract: An improved method of weldbonding utilizing inclusion bodies, placed directly between materials to be bonded or included in a weldbonding adhesive. The inclusion bodies maintain a gap between the materials to be welded which provides a gas releasing egress route to disperse the gas and gaseous byproducts produced during welding. This egress route substantially prevents the gases and gaseous byproducts from being expelled through the weld pool and the resultant degradation of the quality of the weld pool, particularly with coated materials, partial penetration welds, and such materials as 6000 series aluminum. The method further comprises an optional step of including a crack-reducing additive, applied either directly to the materials to be welded or included in the adhesive. A laser weldbonding embodiment may use a plurality of phased heat cycles to reduce weld imperfections, and enhance the effects of the adhesive and optional crack-reducing additive.