Explain-it: How does friction stir welding work?

During the friction stir welding process, metals are stirred at their seam with a rotating tool and - in comparison to the arc and laser beam welding processes - are not melted. The seam is heated but joined in a still solid state. Therefore, friction stir welding is in particular suitable for joining aluminum alloys, mixed joints and technically pure metals.

[@JoeCubicle]

Doest actually show it.

[@askv_editz8092]

Super explanation thanks for the video

[@sneharobin222]

Thank you

[@SBFHOAViolations]

what is the pin made of?

[@erichmielke672]

Very cool, but is only for softer metals ?

[@gergelyjuhasz8654]

SpaceX uses it to build their rockets' bodies made of steel sheets. So it probably works with every metal.

[@chrisallen2005]

@@gergelyjuhasz8654 Does this mean yes or no?

[@thomasjones7380]

@@chrisallen2005 Yes but with caveats. If it's an exceptionally hard or high melting point material like tungsten, you'll probably break the rotating pin before you can weld, but materials like this are hard to weld by conventional means already anyways. For somewhat hard materials like a lot of steels, you may need to replace the pin fairly often which could be expensive but if your weld properties are improved enough vs. the conventional techniques then it may be worth it

[@brokedolph]

@erichmielke672 no. though tungsten carbide is not typically joined by FSW processes, it can be. to directly respond to your question though, NO - in fact, FSW is employed on a massive range of material, from aluminium to superalloys like inconel, stainless steels, carbon steels, and even poly composites like UHMWP or nylon-poly.... the process is the same, you just have to change your rpm, feedrate, and probe type (or pin - the tool that is buried into the material, stirring the workpieces together). you might have a HSS probe for poly, and a coated, cemented carbide tool for use in high carbon steels or superalloys.

[@brokedolph]

tungsten carbide is typically cemented@@thomasjones7380 ..employing FSW for carbide can be done theoretically, but the practical application is lol pretty impractical. inertia friction welding though, that's more common for tungsten. tungsten carbide/cemented tungsten carbide has an extremely high melting point, and as you increase the temp of carbide, it becomes increasingly brittle which makes it not the most appropriate candidate for FSW - especially when you consider that most probes are made of high carbon steel, or *drumroll* tungsten carbide.

[@cliffcox7643]

Still don't know how it works

[@AnaArellano-t7t]

Search for FRICTION STIR WELDING AND PROCESSING by Ravij Mishra

[@samjubilee6593]

too fancy, not enough pictures/tech/details.