Friction Stir Welding

A distinctive and cutting-edge technique for connecting metals is friction stir welding. The friction stir welding process creates extremely high-strength joints that are nearly defect-free, have a small Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), very little mechanical distortion, and good surface polish by combining frictional heat with carefully controlled forging pressure.

By mechanically swirling the materials together under precisely regulated process conditions, friction stir welding (FSW) changes the parent metal from a solid to a plasticized state and creates a high-integrity, full penetration welded junction. The needed process parameters for the friction stir welding application are established on a rotational probe that was specifically created for the job. At the joint interface, the probe is next brought into contact with the metals that will be connected.

The probe travels through the material along the predetermined weld path under carefully regulated axis conditions while load and position are continuously monitored in closed-loop. As the probe rotates, heat produced by friction plasticizes the material in the area, forming a locally formable region. The material at the probe's trailing edge is compressed by the probe shoulder as it moves, forging a solid bond as it does so.