The present disclosure provides a linear friction joining device which includes: a pressing device for pressing a second member onto a first member in a pressing direction; a vibrator for relatively vibrating the first member and the second member; a controller which is configured to bring the second member into contact with the first member by a position control, which depends on a measurement result of position sensors, to change the position control to a load control, which depends on a measurement result of load sensors, and to increase a pressing load toward a joining load; and a joining load reaching time adjuster which is configured to adjust a length of a joining load reaching time which is between the time when the position control is changed to the load control and the time when the pressing load reaches the joining load.

A wedge for on-line inspection of a weld includes a wedge body defining a coolant channel and at least one couplant channel, and a coolant input port in fluid connection with a first end of the coolant channel. The wedge body has a surface for disposing a phased array ultrasonic transducer comprising an array of ultrasonic elements. The coolant channel is formed in proximity to the surface for disposing the phased array ultrasonic transducer such that coolant flowing through the coolant channel maintains the phased array ultrasonic transducer below a predetermined temperature without obstructing the array of ultrasonic elements.

A welder assembly includes a welding mechanism; a carriage plate, the welding mechanism fixedly coupled to the carriage plate; a translation assembly, the carriage plate fixedly coupled to the translation assembly, the translation assembly comprising a force sensor; a ball screw, the translation assembly moveably coupled to the ball screw; and, an axial drive motor coupled to the ball screw, wherein the ball screw is movably coupled to the translation assembly such that rotation of the axial drive motor forces linear translation of the translation assembly.

A double-action friction stir joining system, which includes a double-action friction stir joining device, a cleaning mechanism having a dressing member, a robot, and a control device. The double-action friction stir joining device includes a first rotary driver configured to rotate a pin member and a shoulder member, and a tool driver configured to reciprocate the pin member and the shoulder member. The control device is adapted to (A) operate the tool driver so that the pin member is thrusted into the shoulder member, (B) operate the first rotary driver so that the shoulder member rotates, and (C) operate the robot so that the robot holds the double-action friction stir joining device and the dressing member contacts an inner circumferential surface of the shoulder member.

Systems and techniques are directed to a Swappable Retractable Tool Tip (SRTT), which is designed as a next generation of friction stir welding tools and retractable tool tips. The disclosed SRTT may be swappable, having different types of retractable tool tips that can be assembled and employed as a part of the SRTT. A SRTT system can include at least: a blank tool holder, a piston, and a retractable tool tip. In operation, the blank tool holder allows air to flow to cause movement of the piston and the retractable tool tip. For example, compressed air can push up on the piston and the retractable tool tip, retracting it into a home position inside of the blank tool holder. Also, the SRTT can include springs that push down on the piston and the retractable tool tip, extending the tip into an extended position outside of the blank tool holder.

A method for joining or machining, in particular a friction stir welding method, using an apparatus, in which a tool, in particular a friction stir welding tool, is driven via a spindle with a spindle axis. To achieve high process reliability, even when the method is applied in poorly accessible positions, an adapter, in particular an angle head, is arranged between the spindle and the tool so that the tool axis about which the tool rotates does not coincide with the spindle axis. A force acting on the spindle is measured and the method is controlled depending on the force measured at the spindle. The apparatus for joining or machining, in particular for friction stir welding, includes a headstock with a spindle, which can be rotated about a spindle axis and a tool, in particular a friction stir welding tool, which can be driven about a tool axis by the spindle.

A friction stir welding tool for a machine tool having a frame and a spindle rotatable relative to the frame. The friction stir welding tool includes a pin, a shoulder, and a drive shaft connectable to the spindle to set the pin and the shoulder in rotational motion about a rotation axis, wherein the shoulder is rotatable relative to the pin about the rotation axis. To obtain different speeds of the pin and shoulder in a simple and robust manner, a planetary transmission having a ring gear, a planet carrier, and a sun gear is connected to the drive shaft, pin, and shoulder. The pin or the shoulder is connected to the planet carrier so that the pin and shoulder are set in rotation about the rotation axis at different rotational speeds, but in the same rotation direction, by driving the drive shaft by the spindle.

A friction stir welding apparatus includes a welding tool that includes a shoulder and a probe supported by the shoulder, is inserted into a plurality of welding target members, and moves while rotating to weld the plurality of welding target members, a spindle motor that is coupled to the welding tool to rotate the welding tool in a predetermined direction, a welding head that supports the spindle motor, and an apparatus body that supports the welding head, applies a drive signal to the spindle motor, and moves the welding tool along a welding line while rotating the welding tool. The apparatus body has a first correction mode in which a welding tool position indicating a position of the welding tool in a Z-axis direction is corrected based on a variable correction quantity calculated by a predetermined operational expression according to a fluctuation quantity of a state quantity indicating a control quantity of the welding head in a Z-axis upper direction or a Z-axis lower direction when friction stir welding is performed on the welding target members by the welding tool, and a second correction mode in which the welding tool position is corrected based on a preset fixed correction quantity according to the fluctuation quantity.

A friction stirring tool includes a first rotating tool which has a first tool main body having a first shoulder portion which comes into contact with the obverse surface of a groove portion, a first probe projecting to a front end side from the first tool main body, and a protruding portion projecting to the front end side from the first probe, and a second rotating tool which has a second tool main body having a second shoulder portion which comes into contact with the reverse surface of the groove portion, a second probe projecting to a front end side from the second tool main body, and a protrusion accommodating portion provided on the second probe and capable of accommodating the protruding portion of the first rotating tool.

A device for friction stirring a workpiece material includes a body, a spindle, a driver, and a biasing element. The spindle is configured to rotate around a rotational axis. The driver is rotationally coupled to the spindle. The biasing element supports the driver and is configured to apply a biasing force in an axial direction, wherein the biasing element axially overlaps the spindle.