A friction stir welding apparatus that includes a rotary tool and a heating device. The heating device is placed in front of the rotary tool to heat steel sheets that are used as a workpiece. The rotary tool is moved in the welding direction so that steel sheet is softened by frictional heat. Additionally, the surface temperature, the area, and the position of the heated region during the heating process are strictly controlled. The heating of the steel sheets by the welding apparatus provides sufficient strength and good welding workability by advantageously eliminating plastic flow defects generated due to insufficient heating of workpieces.

A clamp member, for a double-acting friction stir spot welding device, is provided for the double-acting friction stir spot welding device to perform friction stir spot welding of a workpiece by using a rotary tool, and presses a surface of the workpiece while the workpiece is supported. The rotary tool has a pin member and a shoulder member. The clamp member includes an end face that comes into surface contact with the surface of the workpiece to press the surface and a protruding portion protruding from the end face in an axial direction and extending around an axis. The protruding portion is configured to press the workpiece, the clamp member surrounding an outer periphery of the shoulder member.

A blind riveting apparatus (1) comprises a motor (3), and a clamp (31) for gripping the mandrel of a blind rivet, the clamp being movable substantially along the axis of the rivet. The apparatus further comprises a first transmission (51) configured to transfer rotary motion of the motor (3) to the clamp (31) when engaged; and a second transmission (52) configured to convert rotary motion of the motor (3) to linear motion of the clamp (31), and thereby retract the clamp (31) to pull on the mandrel, when engaged. A transmission control apparatus is arranged to selectively adjust the degree of engagement of at least one of the first (51) and second (52) transmissions, the transmission control apparatus comprising a variable-influence brake or clutch (58). Methods of blind riveting, and further pieces of blind riveting apparatus, are also disclosed.

An apparatus for forming a friction weld, the apparatus comprising: a support arrangement; a holding member, which is supported by the supporting arrangement, and which may be driven to rotate with respect thereto, or move with respect thereto along an arcuate path; a consumable element having a first joining face, the consumable element being mounted in a mounting location on the holding member so that the first joining face is exposed, wherein the consumable element is rotatable with respect to the holding member about a first centre of rotation, and wherein when the holding member is driven to rotate or move with respect to the support arrangement, the first centre of rotation travels in an orbital motion with respect to the support arrangement; and at least a first alignment arrangement, positioned to hold a first workpiece in place so that an attachment face of the first workpiece is aligned with the first joining face of the consumable element.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled jacket, to reduce the size of a recessed groove on a surface of a metal member and also to reduce roughness of a jointed surface. The method includes: a placing step of placing a sealing body on a jacket body, a first main joining step of performing friction stirring by moving a main joining rotary tool around to a first overlapped portion, and a second main joining step of performing friction stirring to a second overlapped portion. The main joining rotary tool has a base-end-side pin and a tip-end-side pin. A taper angle of the base-end-side pin is greater than a taper angle of the tip-end-side pin and a stairs-like pin step portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the base-end-side pin.

The disclosed friction bit joining systems may include a ball screw having an internal bore, a chuck and spindle configured to be rotated by a chuck spindle motor, a friction bit joining bit held by the chuck, a support frame, and a chuck driver motor positioned and configure to rotate the ball screw to axially move the chuck and the friction bit joining bit relative to the support frame. At least a portion of the spindle may be positioned within the internal bore of the ball screw. Various other related systems and methods are also disclosed.

A pressure welding method and a pressure welding device (1) includes a plasticizing unit (7), a compression unit (8), a machine head (13) that includes a spindle (54) and a component holder (34). The pressure welding device (1) further includes a spindle drive (56) and an actuation mechanism (41) that includes an actuation drive (65) for the component holder (34). The actuation drive (65) is placed between the spindle drive (56) and the spindle (54) within a drive train (57).

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 heating the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the first member and the second member, while pressing the first member and the second member against each other, without changing a relative positional relationship therebetween, and a step of cooling the first member and the second member heated, while being pressed against each other. In a first contact surface which is a surface of the first member coming into contact with the second member, a recess is formed so as to include a region intersecting the axis of rotation.

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.

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.