Patent ID: 7537150

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring loads on a rotating friction stir welding tool of a friction stir welding machine during operation of the machine, the apparatus comprising: a frame configured to be connected to the friction stir welding machine; first and second rollers rotatably connected to the frame and structured to contact and rotate with the friction stir welding tool, the first roller adapted to adjust in a first direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tool, and the second roller adapted to adjust in a second direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tool; and first and second load cells in communication with the rollers, the first load cell adapted to detect a positional characteristic of the first roller along the first direction and the second load cell adapted to detect a positional characteristic of the second roller along the second direction such that the load cells are configured to measure loads applied to the rotating friction stir welding tool during operation.