TWI

A presentation is made of a successful demonstration of the friction stir welding (FSW) of steel capabilities in a shipyard production facility, summarising the equipment, fixturing and tooling requirements. HSLA-65 steel panels (17m x 2.4m), 6mm thickness, were FSW together using PCBN tooling. A low cost prototype FSW machine which incorporated a 2.5m C frame designed to move along the deck and provide hold-down forces to the panel, carry all control and power systems, auxiliary water cooling and shielding gas was used and is described in detail. Plate preparation was critical and all panels were supplied with corrosion inhibiting paint, surface oxidation and mill scale present over the entire surface of the panels. Initial trials involved bead-on-plate welds to determine optimum weld parameters. Details of fixturing are described from initial concepts. Choice of tool material, based on the demanding property requirements during FSW of ferrous alloys, are briefly discussed based on consideration of MS80 and Q70 grades of PCBN.

8th International Symposium, 18-20 May 2010, Session 5A: Industrial Applications 1, Paper 04