Patent ID: 7740162
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: B23K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of welding together two work-pieces, the method including the following steps: providing two metal work-pieces, each work-piece having a face, friction stir welding a region on each work-piece face, wherein the friction stir welded region extends only part way into the work-piece from an exterior surface of each work-piece, and each friction stir welded region having a grain structure that is finer than the grain structure of the work-piece outside the friction stir welded region, machining the friction stir welded region of each work-piece to produce a prepared surface on one work-piece that can be fusion welded to a corresponding surface on the other work-piece, aligning the friction stir welded regions of the respective work-pieces so that a friction stir welded region abuts another friction stir welded region, and fusion welding the respective prepared surfaces of the two work-pieces together such that a fusion welded region of the work-pieces that melts during the fusion welding process is at least partially encompassed within the friction stir welded regions of the work-pieces, the fusion welding process thereby joining the work-pieces.