Patent ID: 7455210
Filing Date: 2008-11-25
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A processing operation control method of controlling a processing operation of friction stir bonding for bonding workpieces using a rotary tool separated independently from the workpieces in which a rotary tool is rotated by a rotative drive unit, and the rotating rotary tool is pressed by a pressing unit to force the rotating rotary tool into the workpieces to process the workpieces, said processing operation control method comprising the steps of: measuring load placed on the rotary tool during the processing operation; determining an optimum rotating speed at which the rotary tool is to be rotated and an optimum pressure to be applied to the rotary tool for processing the workpieces on the basis of the measured load placed on the rotary tool; and controlling the rotative drive unit and the pressing unit, on the basis of the optimum rotating speed at which the rotary tool is to be rotated and the optimum pressure to be applied to the rotary tool, wherein an optimum processing time for which the rotary tool is to be operated for processing the workpieces is determined on the basis of the measured load placed on the rotary tool, and the rotative drive unit and the pressing unit are controlled according to the optimum processing time, wherein the rotative drive unit is a rotative drive motor, and the load placed on the rotary tool is determined on the basis of a current of the rotative drive motor, and wherein the optimum rotating speed at which the rotary tool is to be rotated and the optimum pressure to be applied to the rotary tool for processing the workpieces are determined on the basis of the depth of feed of the rotary tool in addition to the load placed on the rotary tool.