Friction Stir Welding / #Engineering

Rumble - Friction Stir Welding / #Engineering - Friction stir welding (FSW) is a relatively new solid-state joining process. This method uses frictional heat generated by a rotating tool to join materials. Therefore, there are no fusion or filler materials involved. So how does FSW work?

First, the non-consumable tool, with a profiled probe and shoulder, is rotated and plunged into the interface between two workpieces. Next, it traverses along the joint line, causing the material to heat and soften. Finally, the shoulder also acts to contain this plasticized material, which is mechanically mixed to create a solid weld.

The microstructure of a friction-stir weld depends in detail on the tool design. That’s why there are different rotation and translation speeds, the applied pressure, and the characteristics of the material being joined.

Today, over 40 different types of welding tools have been developed for thin-walled structures, heavy & thick-walled structures, self-adaptive bobbin tools, standard bobbin tools, and retracting pin FSW tooling.