The invention relates to a stud welding method, particularly for welding
without a supporting foot, which makes it possible to securely detect the
presence or the absence of a part to be welded in the stud holding
device. For this purpose, in a first embodiment of the method, the stud
holding device is first positioned in a pre-determined distance relative
to the surface of the workpiece without a part to be welded. Then, a part
to be welded is supplied. When the welding axle moves towards the
workpiece, the distance which has to be covered until the part to be
welded contacts the workpiece is detected. On the basis of the previously
determined distance between the stud holding device and the workpiece and
on the basis of the distance covered, conclusions on the presence or the
absence of a part to be welded may be drawn. In another embodiment, the
stud holding device is moved towards the workpiece together with a part
to be welded until a contact is detected. If, after detecting the
contact, it is possible to further move the welding axle into the stud
holding device as a result of a displacement of the part to be welded,
this will be interpreted as an indication to the presence of a part to be
welded. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out
the method and to a computer program for an evaluation and control unit
of generally known welding devices.