Counter-rotating spindle for friction stir welding

摘要

A counter-rotating spindle includes a shoulder tool, a pin tool inserted in the shoulder tool, a first motor that is connected with the pin tool and rotates the pin tool, and a second motor that is connected with the shoulder tool and rotates the shoulder tool. The direction and the speed of the rotation for the pin tool may be selected independently from the speed and direction of rotation of the shoulder tool enabling optimization of the friction stir welding process. Counter-rotating the pin tool and the shoulder tool may improve the mixing abilities and efficiency of the pin tool and may prevent the galling effect between the pin tool and the shoulder tool. The counter-rotating spindle may be used, for example, for continuous path friction stir welding and spot welding of aluminum and its alloys, including cast alloys, as well as joining similar and dissimilar alloys.

主权项

1. A spindle for friction stir welding, comprising:
a first spindle concentrically disposed within a second spindle, the first spindle comprising
a first motor,a pin tool having an outer diameter, anda first drive spindle coupling the pin tool to the first motor, the first spindle configured to rotate around a central axis to rotate the pin tool and to translate along the central axis to extend and retract the pin tool; and
the second spindle encompassing the first spindle and uncoupled to the first spindle such that the first spindle rotates and translates along the central axis within the second spindle, the second spindle comprisinga second motor,a shoulder tool comprising a hollow central portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pin tool, anda second drive spindle coupling the shoulder tool to the second motor.