Patent ID: 6419142
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
An apparatus (1) for friction stir welding, comprising a welding unit (6) including a welding head (13, 14), a worktable (4) including a backing unit (8; 28; 30; 32) to support the work pieces (2, 3) to be welded together along their joint line, and clamping means (21, 22) to clamp the workpieces to the worktable in a direction towards one another during the welding operation, characterised in that the backing unit consists of at least two backing parts (8a, 8b, 8c; 28a, 28b) or of at least one backing part (8a, 8b, 8c; 28a, 28b) and one additional welding head (30; 32), said backing parts being freely exchangeable, one for the other, before each welding operation as is also each backing part freely exchangeable for the additional welding head, and vice versa.