Solid-state joining of preformed features, such as bosses, flanges, gaskets, centralizers and other features to substrates or cast parts by a solid-state additive manufacturing process is disclosed. Joining can be between same or different materials using same, similar or dissimilar filler material than the materials of the feature and the part that need to be joined.

A system is provided comprising a hardened stud body and an unhardened stud subunit coupled to the hardened stud body. The hardened stud body may comprise a first composition having by weight between 17% and 21% chromium, between 2.8% and 3.3% molybdenum, between 50% to 55% nickel, and between 4.75% and 5.5% niobium. The unhardened stud subunit may comprise a second composition having by weight between 20% and 23% chromium, between 8% and 10% molybdenum, at least 58% nickel, and between 3.15% and 4.15% niobium.

A connection element for an interlocking connection to at least one component includes at least one component held between the connection element and a securing element wherein the connection element and the securing element enter into a friction welded connection, having a head with a drive and a shaft having at least two cutting structures on a front side. The at least two cutting structures have cutting edges situated in a cutting plane, wherein the cutting plane borders the shaft, and the at least two cutting structures are also spaced apart in the circumferential direction and define a cutting diameter. A cross-section of the shaft has a reduced extension between the cutting structures relative to the cutting diameter, wherein the area of the reduced extension extends in the axial direction at least with the length of the cutting diameter from the cutting structures in the direction of the head.

A method for joining materials, comprising placing a first metal item within a spindle; rotating the spindle to a predetermined speed; contacting the first metal item with a second metal item to create friction between the first metal item and second metal item, wherein the second metal item has a known austenization temperature that is not crossed by the created friction; applying a predetermined amount of force through the spindle, wherein application of the force stops the rotation of the spindle and joins the first metal item with the second metal item; and retracting the spindle from the first metal item.

The invention relates to a connecting element (10, 30) for connecting at least two components that are positioned one on top of the other, comprising a shaft (14, 34) and a head (12, 32), which is provided with a drive (38), the shaft (14, 34) being formed from a base material and ending at the exposed shaft end thereof that is opposite the head (12, 32). The invention is characterised in that a tip (16, 40) made of plating material is applied to the exposed shaft end, which plating material is different from the base material.

The method includes a step of preparing a first member made of a first metal and a second member made of a second metal having a smaller deformation resistance than the first metal, and a step of joining the first member and the second member. The step of joining includes a step of disposing the second member in a cavity of a mold, a step of heating the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the first member with respect to the second member, while pressing the first member against the second member, without changing a positional relationship, and a step of cooling the first member and the second member with the members being in contact with each other. In the step of disposing, the second member is disposed such that a second member contact surface is surrounded by the sidewall of the cavity.

A multi-position clamp is disclosed for positioning and holding a portable friction welding tool adjacent a substrate for friction welding a plurality of fixtures in a precise pattern referenced from a fixed position on a substrate. The clamp has a clamp base temporarily securable at the fixed position on the substrate, a traveling mount comprising a tool mount for receiving said portable friction welding tool, and a connection to the clamp base allowing relative movement of the tool mount over the substrate. Index stops help install the plurality of fixtures in the pattern and an articulated fixture loading system allow positioning and loading successive fixtures without disengaging and removing said portable friction welding tool from connection with the clamp base.

The method for producing a metal member includes a step of preparing a first member made of a first metal and having a recessed portion formed therein, and a second member made of a second metal having a smaller deformation resistance than the first metal, and a step of joining the first member and the second member. The step of joining includes a step of increasing temperatures of the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the second member with respect to the first member while pressing the second member against the first member with at least a part of the second member being received in the recessed portion, and a step of stopping the relative rotation of the second member with respect to the first member and cooling the first member and the second member with the members being pressed against each other.

An automated electric portable friction welding system is disclosed for friction welding a fixture onto a substrate, the welding system having a linear actuator received to produce a defined stroke within a tool housing and a rotary motor engaged to said linear actuator to slide therewith. A control module controls welding operations as a function of encoded instructions and the sensor data from the linear actuator and the rotary motor, whereby the control module affords both active control of the linear actuator and rotary motor, individually to performance parameter instructions, and in coordination through phases of the weld process in response to linear actuator operation sensors and motor operation sensors. Another feature of some embodiments of the present invention is a portable friction welding network and a method for supporting portable friction welding on the cloud.

A specialized vacuum chuck system of the present invention is capable of securing an object to a specialized welding tool in order to ensure that the object remains in a proper positional relationship with the welding tool. The system may also use springs and load stops to ensure that a proper load in maintained so the chuck base is not pulled off the object.