FRICTION STIR WELDING APPARATUS AND FRICTION STIR WELDING METHOD

摘要

It is an object of the present invention to provide a friction stir welding apparatus and a friction stir welding method which are capable of preventing the formation of recesses on either side of a welding trace on a surface side of a welded region regardless of whether a space is present between workpieces. This friction stir welding apparatus (1) is provided with a rotation shaft (2) and a driving unit (3). A screw thread for friction stirring (21) is formed on the rotation shaft (2). The driving unit (3) rotatably supports the rotation shaft (2). A rotating shoulder (5) is fixed to a front end of the rotation shaft (2), the rotating shoulder (5) rotating in conjunction with the rotation shaft (2) and thus generating friction heat between a rear surface of a workpiece (W) and the rotating shoulder (5). The rotating shoulder (5) is pressed onto the rear surface of the workpiece (W) using a pressing mechanism (6). A stationary shoulder (4) is non-rotatably attached to the driving unit (3) or a member (16) linked with the driving unit (3), the rotation shaft (2) passing through the stationary shoulder (4), which supports the workpiece (W) in conjunction with the rotation shoulder (5).