A retaining device (3) is provided for a workpiece (7), which is machined by an industrial robot (2), including a machining tool (4), along a machining path (16). The retaining device (3) includes a clamping tool (5) for clamping tool parts (13, 14) on the machining path (16) and a multi-axis guiding device (6) for the clamping tool (5) and for the independent movement thereof relative to the workpiece (7) during the machining process.

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.

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 stir pin includes a base end portion configured to be held rotatably about a first axis, a stirring portion provided to project from a shoulder member to be rotatable about the first axis together with the base end portion, and an intermediate portion including a second portion connected to the stirring portion to be rotatable about the first axis together with the stirring portion and having a second diameter passing through the first axis, and a first portion provided between and connected to the base end portion and the second portion to be rotatable about the first axis together with the base end portion and the second portion. The first portion has an end surface to which the second portion is connected and which has a maximum diameter larger than the second diameter. The end surface has a ring-shaped receiving surface configured to receive a material waste.

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.

A method for joining dissimilar metals according to the embodiment is a method for butt-joining, using frictional heat, a first member having a plate shape and containing first metal and a second member having a plate shape and containing second metal having a melting point higher than that of the first metal. The method for joining dissimilar metals includes: overlapping an end portion of the second member on an end portion of the first member; and pressurizing the second member toward the first member by bringing a rotating joining tool having a protruding portion at a tip end into contact with an overlapping portion of the second member with the first member. When the second member is pressurized toward the first member, the tip end of the rotating joining tool is not in contact with the first member.

A friction stir welding method in which a first member to be welded and a second member to be welded and having a first step portion are welded by friction stir welding using a welding tool includes the steps of arranging the first member to be welded on a step supporting surface of the first step portion with a gap between the first member to be welded and a side surface of the first step portion, pushing the welding tool into the first member to be welded from a surface of the first member to be welded while rotating the welding tool and inserting the welding tool until reaching the step supporting surface of the second member to be welded and stirring the first member to be welded and the second member to be welded by rotating the welding tool to form a welding part.

The present disclosure discloses a continuous string welding device for photovoltaic cells and a welding method. The device includes a power transmission mechanism and a welding light box. The power transmission mechanism includes a welding strip positioning section, a buffering section and a welding section that perform conveying independently from each other in sequence in the conveying direction. The buffering section is capable of storing at least one string of cells. The welding light box is located in the welding section. The welding strip positioning section performs step-by-step motion conveying. The welding section performs continuous motion conveying. The buffering section is configured to receive a predetermined number of cells from the welding strip positioning section, connect the predetermined number of cells in series, and then convey the predetermined number of cells connected in series to the welding section.

A method for welding a first component to a second component. The method includes providing a first component including a first alloy, providing a second component including a second alloy, heating the first component, and solid state welding the second component to the first component.

A method for forming a large metallic component, a friction stir welded component and a friction stir welded blank are provided. The method includes positioning a first metallic plate and a second metallic plate in an abutting arrangement. The first metallic plate and the second metallic plate have corresponding faying surfaces at a point of abutment. A backing plate is attached spanning the point of abutment adjacent the faying surfaces. The first metallic plate is friction stir welded to the second metallic plate to form a friction stir weld along the faying surfaces. The backing plate receives an end of a friction stir welding tool curing the friction stir welding. The backing plate is removed to form a welded blank. The welded blank is formed into a component form. The component is heat treated and aged to form the large metallic component. The friction stir weld in the welded blank has a stable microstructure having little or no abnormal grain growth during elevated temperature forming, heat treatment and aging.