Familiar with Friction welding????

[toddzjeep]

Hey folks! Anybody have any experience with friction welding and what is your take on it? I have read some info that was on a Boeing website where it was being used to build planes. I just don't seem to get the whole idea why it's needed. Oh, and by friction welding....I mean....FRICTION STIR Welding. The gun looks like a drill on steroids...and I have seen some that look like a mill. Just wanted to hear what some of you have to say.....Thanks!





Have a good one!

[yhprum]

Check out the eclipse, they are buidling alsmost the whole plane using this method. saves a lot of manufactung cost, but repair will be a lot harder than rivets.
http://www.eclipseaviation.com/content/view/142/0/
Steve

[pulser]

One of the primary attributes of friction stir welding is that it is a "solid state" bonding process (no melting), so it is possible to join materials that cannot be fusion welded (melted).

[76GMC1500]

The big motorcycle companies friction weld titanium valve heads to steel valve stems in their 250cc and 450cc dirt bikes.

[zapster]

i've friction welded lots of connecting rods to crankshafts in the past...

...zap!

[prop-doctor]

lol lack of oil zap??? or toooo hot .. many RPM s

[Bob at WeldingMag]

Originally Posted by toddzjeep

Hey folks! Anybody have any experience with friction welding and what is your take on it? I have read some info that was on a Boeing website where it was being used to build planes. I just don't seem to get the whole idea why it's needed.

On our sister website, WeldingDesign.com (which you can access from the "Home" button on the maroon menu bar at the top of the page), you can use the welding-only search engine. It's powered by Google, but eliminates non-welding references.

Here's one article that came up:
Welding Design article on Friction Stir Welding, 2004

[toddzjeep]

thanks to everyone that gave input on this....it looks like I will be looking into this more, but I do have a lot better understanding of it's usefulness. Once again, thanks ! I have a lot to check into ....I want to get into fabrication welding....stainless, aluminum, incinel....(not sure about the spelling on that one) LOL .....anyways...Thanks!!