Method of manufacturing self-pierce rivets

1. A method of manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire, the method comprising:

separating the length of wire to form a plurality of slugs, each slug defining a head end and a tail end; and

forging a plurality of rivets from the slugs, each rivet having a head formed from the head end of a slug and a tip formed from the tail end of that slug, the head and the tip of the rivet being separated by a shank which defines a longitudinal axis, the rivet having a bore which runs substantially longitudinally through the tip and at least part way along the shank;

wherein, for each of the plurality of rivets, the method comprises performing a machining operation to remove material from at least one selected from the group of an outer portion and an inner portion of the tip of the rivet, or from the tail end of the slug from which the rivet was forged.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operations are performed on the slugs, and each machining operation also separates a slug from the length of wire.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation is performed on each slug once that slug has been separated from the length of wire.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operations are performed on the rivets.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the machining operation performed on each rivet forms at least the part of the tip which is adjacent an outer periphery of the shank.

6. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the machining operation performed on each rivet forms at least the part of the tip which is adjacent to the bore.

7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the machining operation performed on each rivet forms at least the part of the tip which is adjacent an outer periphery of the shank; and

wherein the machining operation performed on each rivet forms the entire tip.

8. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the machining operation removes material along substantially all of the length of the bore of the rivet.

9. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the machining operation removes material along the entire length of the rivet.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation is performed using a saw.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation is performed using a grinding tool.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation is performed using a bladed tool.

13. A method according to claim 11 , wherein said tool is a formed tool.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein said tool is a simple-geometry tool.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:

before separation of the length of wire to form the slugs, the length of wire defines a longitudinal axis;

after each slug is separated from the length of wire, that slug defines a longitudinal axis which is substantially aligned with the portion of the longitudinal axis of the wire which ran therethrough; and

after each rivet is forged from a slug, the longitudinal axis of the rivet is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the slug from which it was made.

16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the machining operations are performed on the slugs, and each machining operation also separates a slug from the length of wire, wherein the machining operation forms a substantially planar surface on the tail end of the slug, that surface being positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slug.

17. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the machining operations are performed on each slug once that slug has been separated from the length of wire, wherein the machining operation forms a substantially planar surface on the tail end of the slug, that surface being positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slug.

18. A method according to claim 15 , wherein each machining operation is performed while the slug or rivet, and the tool used to perform the machining operation, are rotated relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the slug or rivet.

19. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation removes material to a depth of at least 0.2 mm.

20. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the machining operation removes material from an axially outermost tip of the rivet.

21. A rivet manufactured using a method of manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire, the method comprising:

separating the length of wire to form a plurality of slugs, each slug defining a head end and a tail end; and

forging a plurality of rivets from the slugs, each rivet having a head formed from the head end of a slug and a tip formed from the tail end of that slug, the head and the tip of the rivet being separated by a shank which defines a longitudinal axis, the rivet having a bore which runs substantially longitudinally through the tip and at least part way along the shank;

wherein, for each of the plurality of rivets, the method comprises performing a machining operation to remove material from at least one selected from the group of an outer portion and an inner portion of the tip of the rivet, or from the tail end of the slug from which the rivet was forged.

22. A method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire, and driving one of the rivets into a workpiece using a punch such that the rivet flares into the workpiece without fully penetrating the workpiece;

wherein manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire comprises:

separating the length of wire to form a plurality of slugs, each slug defining a head end and a tail end; and

forging a plurality of rivets from the slugs, each rivet having a head formed from the head end of a slug and a tip formed from the tail end of that slug, the head and the tip of the rivet being separated by a shank which defines a longitudinal axis, the rivet having a bore which runs substantially longitudinally through the tip and at least part way along the shank;

wherein, for each of the plurality of rivets, the method comprises performing a machining operation to remove material from at least one selected from the group of an outer portion and an inner portion of the tip of the rivet, or from the tail end of the slug from which the rivet was forged.

23. A product manufactured using a method of manufacturing a product, the method comprising manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire, and driving one of the rivets into a workpiece using a punch such that the rivet flares into the workpiece without fully penetrating the workpiece;

wherein manufacturing self-pierce rivets from a length of wire comprises:

separating the length of wire to form a plurality of slugs, each slug defining a head end and a tail end; and

forging a plurality of rivets from the slugs, each rivet having a head formed from the head end of a slug and a tip formed from the tail end of that slug, the head and the tip of the rivet being separated by a shank which defines a longitudinal axis, the rivet having a bore which runs substantially longitudinally through the tip and at least part way along the shank;

wherein, for each of the plurality of rivets, the method comprises performing a machining operation to remove material from at least one selected from the group of an outer portion and an inner portion of the tip of the rivet, or from the tail end of the slug from which the rivet was forged.

24. A product according to claim 23 , wherein the product is a vehicle.