Patent ID: 6050475
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
An apparatus for attachment to a rotatable spindle for controlling the force exerted by a friction stir welding tool upon a workpiece, comprising:an inner housing defining an aperture through which said friction stir welding tool at least partially extends, said inner housing having a plurality of cam followers;an outer housing defining an aperture for at least partially receiving said inner housing, said outer housing having a base member and a riser, said riser rotatably mounted to said base member and defining a plurality of inclined surfaces upon which said plurality of cam followers ride;means for measuring the magnitude of force exerted by the friction stir welding tool upon the workpiece; andmeans, responsive to said measuring means and in rotatable communication with said riser, for rotating said riser relative to said inner housing to thereby move the cam followers along the respective inclined surfaces so as to modify the force exerted by the friction stir welding tool upon the workpiece.