Development and implementation of a load-controlled friction stir welder
- Loftus Z. ,
- Venable R. and
- Adams G.P.
- Loftus Z. ,
- Venable R. and
- Adams G.P.
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Control equipment for the friction stir welding process was developed and evaluated for the production of a 8.4 m (27.5 ft) diameter, 0.32 in (8.13 mm) wall thickness 2195-T8 aluminium alloy space vehicle external fuel tank. The use of a computer-based system with axial load control as the command variable in a closed loop system was evaluated as an alternative to depth control to maintain a fixed distance between the tool tip and the back of the workpiece. At the start of the weld, position control is used to plunge the tool to the specified depth, and welding then continues at a constant speed (rotation and travel), with constant axial load on the tool.
1st International Symposium, 14-16 Jun 1999, Session 01: Process Development 1, Paper 02
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