There is provided a friction stir welding method in which, when double-sided friction stir welding is performed, enough plastic flow to obtain a welded state uniform in the thickness direction of metal sheets can be obtained, in which an increase in welding speed is achieved while the occurrence of defects during welding is prevented, and in which sufficient strength and improvement in welding workability can be achieved. There is also provided a friction stir welding device suitable for the friction stir welding.

Provided are a friction stir welding apparatus and a friction stir welding method capable of highly accurate position control in a Z-axis direction (vertical direction) of a joining tool when a joint target member is subjected to friction stir welding by the friction stir welding apparatus. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a joining tool which consists of a shoulder portion and a probe portion and is inserted into a joint target member to rotate, a joining head which holds the joining tool, an apparatus body which holds the joining head, rotates the joining tool, and moves the joining tool, and a control device which controls an operation of the joining tool, in which the control device has a reference setting mode where a correction reference used for correction of misalignment in the Z-axis direction of the joining tool which occurs when the joint target member is joined by the joining tool is set in a stage before the joining tool is inserted into the joint target member, a joining mode where the joining tool is inserted into the joint target member and the joint target member is joined, and a correction mode where an amount of position fluctuation of a tip of the joining tool with respect to the correction reference which occurs when the joining tool joins the joint target member is measured and correction is performed when the amount of position fluctuation exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

A counter support for friction stir welding, which makes it possible to also produce very long weld seams by friction stir welding despite a very compact design, is shown. Curved components and nn-straight weld seams may also be produced.

The present invention includes: a preparation process configured to provide a first metal member including an end portion with a vertical face, and a second metal member including an end portion with an inclined face, a higher melting point and a smaller plate thickness than the first metal member; a butting process configured to butt the end portions of the first metal member and the second metal member against each other and form a butted portion with a V-shaped gap; and a joining process configured to join the first metal member and the second metal member together by inserting the rotating rotary tool from only a front face of the first metal member and relatively moving the rotary tool along the butted portion while only the stirring pin is in contact with at least the first metal member.

Disclosed is a method for separating a first member (1) and a second member (2) joined to each other comprising the steps of placing a clamp ring (14) on the surface of the first member, plunging a rotating probe (17) having a screw thread on a peripheral surface thereof into the surface of the first member through a through hole (10) of the clamp ring until a tip end of the probe reaches beyond an interface between the first member and the second member, the screw thread being directed so as to lift material of the bonded part away from the second member as a lifted part. The two members can be rejoined to each other by collapsing the lifted part into a bonded part once again by using a rotating probe and a clamp ring.

In some implementations, an apparatus comprises a pipe, a stud that is forge-welded to the pipe, creating a forge-welded stud, a bracket that is operably coupled to the forge-welded stud, and a walkway operably coupled to the bracket.

A friction spot joining device configured to carry out friction spot joining of a pair of plates includes an advance-retreat drive configured to advance and retreat a tool to/from the plates a rotation drive configured to rotate the tool, and a controller configured to control the advance-retreat drive and the rotation drive. The controller executes a joining control in which the tool is caused to give pressure to the plates while the tool is rotated so that the tool is pushed into the plates, and a separating control in which the tool is separated from the plates when an integrated value (P=I.sub.D×ΔT) calculated using a current value (I.sub.D) of the rotation drive during the joining control and a driving period of time (ΔT) during the joining control is determined to be reached a target value.

A friction stir welding apparatus and method maintains a depth of a welded part constant without varying a depth-direction position of a welding tool leading end part relative to welded members. A control device controls an operation of the friction stir welding apparatus, and a holder unit is connected to a swing mechanism unit via a revolving mechanism section, and a welding tool is held to the holder unit. The control device has a first welding mode in which friction stir welding is performed on the basis of a welding condition signal for deciding a welding condition of the welding tool, a swing control signal for controlling the swing mechanism unit, a first hold position decision signal, and a second welding mode in which friction stir welding is performed on the basis of the welding condition signal, the swing control signal, and a second hold position decision signal.

Solid-state additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, completely or partially performed by a solid-state manufacturing system, are disclosed. Solid-state deposition processes of different materials for printing 3D parts, coating, joining or repair are included as examples. Subtractive processing steps, such as machining, drilling, surface grooving, surface activation and others are discussed as well. In addition, other processes performed by other means are mentioned in making the final parts.

The friction stir welding head presented herein includes a head housing and an axle. The head housing extends from a top end to an open bottom end and defines a bore extending between the top end and the open bottom end. The axle that is coaxial with and rotatable within the bore. The axle is also laterally secured within the head housing and axially movable with respect to the head housing. Still further, the axle includes an engagement end that extends beyond the open bottom end of the head housing. The engagement end supports a friction stir welding tool that is configured to rotate with the axle to effectuate friction stir welding operations. The friction stir welding head may also include a load cell configured to generate load signals in response to axial movement of the axle.