Friction welding process to join external fixture to automotive body shell inserted through a pre-prepared hole

摘要

In a friction welding process to attached a metal fixture to an automotive body shell, a rotating tool (5) is inserted through a pre-prepared hole (6) in the fixture (2). The rotating tool engages with the fixture and they rotate together as the fixture is presented and penetrates the body shell, creating a hole in the body shell (3) to which it then joins by welding. The tool is subsequently withdrawn on cooling.