Patent ID: 8556156
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A friction stir welding method, comprising: directing a rotating friction stir welding tool along a joint between a first part and a second part to form a weld therebetween; measuring a temperature of at least one of a first part and a second part; and decreasing a temperature differential between the measured temperature and a desired temperature of the weld by dynamically adjusting one or more of a plurality of process parameters, the plurality of process parameters comprising an amount of axial force applied by the friction stir welding tool along the joint, a feed rate of the friction stir welding tool along the joint and a rotational speed of a tip portion of the friction stir welding tool, wherein the dynamic adjusting is in accordance with a temperature response curve that describes expected temperature changes in response to adjustments of at least one of the plurality of process parameters.