SELF-GUIDING FRICTION STIR WELDING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

[0050] One embodiment of a friction stir welding apparatus comprises two friction stir welding tools on a carriage (12). The first friction stir welding tool (14) is capable of rotating in a first direction. The second friction stir welding tool (16) is capable of rotating in a second direction, counter to the first direction. The first friction stir welding tool and the second friction stir welding tool are operable to weld simultaneously and in tandem along an intersection of at least two work pieces. In some embodiments, when welding, the first friction stir welding tool (14) is capable of exerting a greater force on a first work piece than on a second work piece and the second friction stir welding tool (16) is capable of exerting a greater force on the second work piece than on the first work piece so that a sum of the forces of the first and second stir welding tools on the work pieces urges the carriage (12) and the friction stir welding tools along the seam or inter section in a substantially linear path.