Patent ID: 8112838
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for cleaning a friction stir welding tool having a weld process residue material on a surface of the tool, the apparatus comprising: a heating component for heating a non-consumable friction stir welding tool having weld process residue material remaining on the surface of the tool after the tool has been used in a friction stir welding process, wherein the tool is heated to an effective temperature that does not overheat the tool and that heats and transforms the process residue material from a solid process residue material to a plasticized process residue material; a temperature indicator component for indicating the effective temperature of the tool; a tool cleaner component for removing the plasticized process residue material from the tool, wherein when the effective temperature is reached, the tool cleaner component contacts and removes the plasticized process residue material from the tool; and, a controller component for distributing power to the heating component, to the temperature indicator component, and to the tool cleaner component.