Patent ID: 7494040

Claim:
A friction stir welding system that is capable of functionally friction stir welding high melting temperature materials, said system comprising: a friction stir welding tool having a superabrasive material disposed on a pin of the friction stir welding tool, wherein the superabrasive material is manufactured under an ultra high temperature and an ultra high pressure process; and a movable mandrel disposed opposite the friction stir welding tool, to thereby create a counter-force to a pressure exerted by the friction stir welding tool on the high melting temperature materials, to thereby prevent damage to the high melting temperature materials, said movable mandrel further comprising: an anvil for generating at least three points of contact between the movable mandrel and an inside diameter (ID) of a pipe formed from the high melting temperature materials, wherein a middle one of the at least three points of contact is directly opposite the friction stir welding tool that is pressing against the outside diameter (OD) of the pipe, and two outer points of contact are disposed against an opposite side of the pipe ID, and not against a seam.