Friction stir processing - Analysis of the process

Abstract

Results of friction stir processing (FSP) of aluminium alloy 6082 are presented in this paper. The FSP is an emerging metal working technology that can provide localized modification and control of microstructures in near surface layers of processed metallic components. This technology represents an adaptation of the principle of friction stir welding (FSW), a solid state joining process originally developed at the Welding Institute in the United Kingdom. Investigations were conducted on the welding machine, built on the base of the conventional, vertical milling machine equipped with LOWSTIR device - weld monitoring system plus software to display real time numerical values of forces and torque. The goal of the research was to determine the relationship between processing parameters and quality of the processed surface, forces and spindle torque acting on the tool. Results indicate that the quality of FSP zone is good in the limited range of processing parameters. The increase of the rotation speed of a tool causes the decrease in the spindle torque and increase in the heat generation.