Friction stir processing apparatus and friction stir processing method

摘要

A friction stir processing apparatus comprises a tool, a processing head retaining the tool, a support table retaining the workpiece, and a cylinder unit biasing the support table toward the tool. The tool having a probe projecting from a shoulder surface, for performing friction stir processing on a workpiece made of a metal material. The processing head is pressing the tool against the workpiece so as to relatively shift the tool in a processing direction. The friction stir processing apparatus comprises load control means for controlling to constantly keep the bias force of the cylinder unit so as to constantly keep pressurizing force of the tool pressing the workpiece. It is thus possible to perform friction stir processing with excellent quality even when the workpiece has a different thickness or is made of a different material.

主权项

1. A friction stir processing method of pressing a rotating tool against a workpiece made of a metal material and processing the workpiece by softening the workpiece with use of generated frictional heat, the method comprising
upon friction stir processing, initially locating the tool at preliminarily set height with respect to the workpiece, then controlling pressure of air supplied to a pneumatic cylinder to constantly keep bias force of the pneumatic cylinder for supporting a support table retaining the workpiece and biasing the support table toward the tool, so as to constantly keep pressurizing force of the tool pressing the workpiece, wherein reactive force of the bias force is caused to serve as the pressurizing force for the tool to press the workpiece on the support table.