Friction Stir Welding

Friction Stir Welding is a solid state joining process, in which a cylindrical shouldered tool with a profiled pin is inserted into the joint line between two pieces of material. Frictional heat is created between the wear resistant pin and the two work pieces, which are butted together and clamped onto a backing bar.

The heat causes the materials to soften, without reaching melting point, and allows the pin to traverse along the joint. As the tool moves along, the material is plasticised by the frictional heat at the front of the rotating pin and transported to the back. Here it consolidates and cools down to form a solid state weld.

example weld

GS4 10,000

Manufacture 5m diameter circular tubes from 4 curved sheets of aluminium.

GS2B 10,000

Joining the 5m diameter  tubes together.

GS2C 10,000

Welding end caps onto 5m diameter 20m length tube.

Automotive

• Body panels

Railway Industry

• Rolling stock, underground carriages &  trains
• Railway tankers and wagons
• Container bodies

Marine Industries

• Panels for decks, sides and bulkheads
• Aluminium extrusions
• Boat sections
• Hulls and superstructures
• Helicopter landing platforms

Land Transport Industry

• Truck bodies
• Fuel tankers
• Motorcycle and bicycle frames
• Buses and caravans
• Armour plated vehicles

Construction Industry

• Façade panels
• Window frames and air conditioners
• Pipe fabrication
• Aluminium bridges

Other industries

• Aerospace - military/civilian aircraft, rockets,
• fuel tanks, aircraft parts
• Electrical -    motor housings, busbars, electrical connectors
• Gas -            Tanks and cylinders
• Chemical and Petrochemical - heat exchangers

Typical Agricultural Silo Application

FPE and Gatwick Fusions range of Friction Welders are suitable for the following industries:

• AEROSPACE
• AUTOMOTIVE
• CUTTING TOOLS
• ELECTRICAL
• INDUSTRIAL
• OIL AND ROCK EXPLORATION
• WHITE GOODS