Friction Stir Welding Retaining Arm for Multi-Directional Joint Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing friction stir welding apparatuses require significant time and labor to adjust workpieces when joining along joint lines extending in multiple directions, as they can only move in the direction of the feed rollers, increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A friction stir welding apparatus with a rotary tool and a roller on a retaining arm that allows for movement in arbitrary directions, enabling the tool to follow joint lines in any direction without needing to reorient the workpieces, using a roller that can turn to adjust the retaining arm's path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the receiving table is fed by feed rollers on the work table, then the receiving table can move in the feeding direction during welding, but it cannot move in arbitrary directions, requiring workpiece reorientation when joint line direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the worktable and feed rollers movable to accommodate different welding directions, the invention inverts the approach by making the retaining arm movable in arbitrary directions while keeping the worktable fixed. This allows the welding tool to adapt to multi-directional joint lines without requiring workpiece reorientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining arm is designed with movable joints that enable it to change its position and orientation dynamically during the welding process. This dynamic capability allows the arm to follow joint lines in any direction, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability to multi-directional welding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If workpieces are reoriented and reset on the work table whenever joint line direction changes, then welding can proceed along different directions, but significant time and labor are required, increasing production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The movable retaining arm with adjustable joints enables continuous welding along joint lines in multiple directions without interrupting the process to reorient workpieces. This dynamic positioning capability maintains high productivity while achieving versatility in welding different方向的 joint lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining arm structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it can position the welding tool along joint lines in any direction, support the tool during welding, and adjust its configuration adaptively. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate operations to handle different welding directions, thereby improving productivity.
3Device complexity
If the receiving table is fixed to move only in the feeding direction of feed rollers, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate joint lines extending in two or more directions without workpiece reorientation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complicating the worktable structure to enable multi-directional movement, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the worktable simple and fixed, while making the retaining arm movable in arbitrary directions. This maintains structural simplicity while achieving adaptability to multi-directional welding.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining arm incorporates movable joints that provide dynamic positioning capability without significantly increasing overall system complexity. The arm can adapt its configuration to follow joint lines in any direction, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and welding versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient welding of workpieces along joint lines in multiple directions without reorienting the workpieces, reducing production costs and allowing for continuous joining on uneven surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
after the roller comes into contact with the lower surface of the work table (or workpiece(s) per se) onto which workpieces are set
Implementation Method 2
by rotating and pressing a rotary tool against the joint region and gradually inserting the same into the joint line, so that the material of the workpieces undergoes plastic deformation under the rotating force of the rotary tool
Implementation Method 3
the material of the workpieces undergoes plastic deformation under the rotating force of the rotary tool
Data Source
AI summary
A friction stir welding apparatus and a method of operating the friction stir welding apparatus are disclosed. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotary tool whose extremity constitutes a probe, a retaining arm which supports the rotary tool, and a roller provided at a position of the retaining arm opposite the rotary tool. The method includes adjusting the retaining arm so as to position workpieces between the rotary tool and the roller while adjusting the roller to turn in a direction where a joint line of the workpieces extends, rotating the rotary tool and lowering the probe until the probe presses the workpieces, gradually inserting the probe into the joint line, and moving the probe along the joint line.