File:Friction Stir Weld.jpg
Summary
This close-up view of the friction stir weld tack tool used to manufacture of <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle" title="Space Shuttle">space shuttle</a> external tanks shows the process of tack welding barrel panels together. Barrels were previously fabricated using traditional fusion welding, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/friction_stir_welding" class="extiw" title="en:friction stir welding">friction stir welding</a> is different in that the materials are not melted. A rotating tool pin uses friction and applied pressure to join the 20-foot longitudinal panels together. Friction stir welding is the most recent upgrade to the space shuttle's external tank, the largest element of the shuttle and the only element that is not reusable. The new welding technique utilizes frictional heating combined with forging <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pressure" title="Category:Pressure">pressure</a> to produce high-strength bonds virtually free of defects. Friction stir welding transforms the <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Metals" title="Category:Metals">metals</a> from a solid state into a "plastic-like" state, and then mechanically stirs the materials together under pressure to form a welded joint. Invented and patented by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Welding_Institute" class="extiw" title="en:The Welding Institute">The Welding Institute</a>, a <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:British" title="Category:British">British</a> research and technology organization, the process is applicable to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace" class="extiw" title="en:Aerospace">aerospace</a>, <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Shipbuilding" title="Shipbuilding">shipbuilding</a>, <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aircraft" title="Category:Aircraft">aircraft</a> and <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Automotive" title="Category:Automotive">automotive</a> industries. One of the key benefits of this new <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Technology" title="Category:Technology">technology</a> is that it allows welds to be made on <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alloys" title="Category:Alloys">alloys</a> that cannot be readily fusion arc welded, the traditional method of welding.
Licensing
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File history
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| Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| current | 08:30, 6 January 2017 | | 3,504 × 2,336 (963 KB) | 127.0.0.1 (talk) | This close-up view of the friction stir weld tack tool used to manufacture of <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle" title="Space Shuttle">space shuttle</a> external tanks shows the process of tack welding barrel panels together. Barrels were previously fabricated using traditional fusion welding, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/friction_stir_welding" class="extiw" title="en:friction stir welding">friction stir welding</a> is different in that the materials are not melted. A rotating tool pin uses friction and applied pressure to join the 20-foot longitudinal panels together. Friction stir welding is the most recent upgrade to the space shuttle's external tank, the largest element of the shuttle and the only element that is not reusable. The new welding technique utilizes frictional heating combined with forging <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Pressure" title="Category:Pressure">pressure</a> to produce high-strength bonds virtually free of defects. Friction stir welding transforms the <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Metals" title="Category:Metals">metals</a> from a solid state into a "plastic-like" state, and then mechanically stirs the materials together under pressure to form a welded joint. Invented and patented by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Welding_Institute" class="extiw" title="en:The Welding Institute">The Welding Institute</a>, a <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:British" title="Category:British">British</a> research and technology organization, the process is applicable to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace" class="extiw" title="en:Aerospace">aerospace</a>, <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Shipbuilding" title="Shipbuilding">shipbuilding</a>, <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aircraft" title="Category:Aircraft">aircraft</a> and <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Automotive" title="Category:Automotive">automotive</a> industries. One of the key benefits of this new <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Technology" title="Category:Technology">technology</a> is that it allows welds to be made on <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Aluminium" title="Aluminium">aluminium</a> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alloys" title="Category:Alloys">alloys</a> that cannot be readily fusion arc welded, the traditional method of welding. |
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