The main research equipment of the laboratory:
- ToxPressotechnik press with a maximum pressure of 100 KN, equipped with a working punch displacement and pressure measuring system; the whole is controlled by a dedicated press program; the software enables changes of forming parameters, thus enabling research on increasing the efficiency of the process and increasing the load-bearing capacity of the joints thus produced,
- a device for forming samples intended for the biaxial loading test,
- device for testing the strength in the biaxial load condition of joints,
- a set of several dies for forming riveted joints without holes,
- a set of punches and dies for forming direct stamped joints,
- tool head and die for forming a pressed joint with an additional rivet (clinchriveting),
- tool head for forming riveted joints without holes, micrometric digital measuring sensor for checking the thickness of the crease bottom,
- a device for testing the strength of joints in biaxial load condition.
In addition, the laboratory is well equipped with models of industrial components, which use modern technologies for joining sheet metal elements.
Characteristics of tests conducted in the laboratory:
The conducted research works include numerical and experimental analyses concerning the analysis of the production of new varieties of plastically shaped joints. The research equipment includes a station dedicated to the production of clinched joints, such as:
- clinching,
- clinchriveting,
- selfpiercing-riveting,
- solid self-piercing-riveting,
- the ToxPressotechnik press is equipped with sets of tools for the production of the above-mentioned joints, as well as their modifications.
For the needs of the laboratory's activities, own tools have been designed and made, which are used to optimize the process of their production, taking into account the strength of joints and reducing the energy consumption of the process of forming them. The obtained joints are analyzed in terms of increasing the shear and tear strength, as well as in a complex load condition. The most common load case for these connections is at least two-axis load condition. Hence, tests of the load capacity of joints are carried out with the use of the device's own design, which allows to change the angle of the load, so that a state with the acting shear force and breaking the joint is generated.
The team dealing with this subject, carried out as part of the statutory activity of the Department, has several patent applications on the basis of modern methods of joining sheets. New ones are being developed for filing with the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland. The activity of the laboratory also allowed for the implementation of diploma theses by students, habilitation thesis and doctoral dissertations. In addition, there was one implementation of the technology of riveted joints in the industry.