METHOD AND APPARSTUS FOR RADIATION ASSISTED FRICTION STIR WELDING

摘要

There are provided an apparatus and method for friction welding structural members (60, 62). The apparatus -includes a connected shank (20) and probe (22). The probe (22) and the shank (20) defines an absorption surface (32) and a cavity (26) extending thereto. The absorption surface (32) is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation (52) from an electromagnetic radiation source (50) such as a light source or RF generator. The radiation (52) heats the probe (22), supplementing the heat generated by friction between the probe (22) and the structural members (60, 62), and thereby increasing the speed at which the probe (22) can be used to frictionally weld the structural materials (60, 62).