WO2001078935A1 - Joining method for billets - Google Patents

Joining method for billets Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001078935A1
WO2001078935A1 PCT/SE2001/000825 SE0100825W WO0178935A1 WO 2001078935 A1 WO2001078935 A1 WO 2001078935A1 SE 0100825 W SE0100825 W SE 0100825W WO 0178935 A1 WO0178935 A1 WO 0178935A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
billets
joined
friction stir
stir welding
joining
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2001/000825
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mats Johansson
Original Assignee
Sapa Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from SE0001414A external-priority patent/SE516494C2/en
Application filed by Sapa Ltd. filed Critical Sapa Ltd.
Priority to AU2001248969A priority Critical patent/AU2001248969A1/en
Publication of WO2001078935A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001078935A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K20/00—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating
    • B23K20/12—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding
    • B23K20/122—Non-electric welding by applying impact or other pressure, with or without the application of heat, e.g. cladding or plating the heat being generated by friction; Friction welding using a non-consumable tool, e.g. friction stir welding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
    • B21C33/00—Feeding extrusion presses with metal to be extruded ; Loading the dummy block
    • B21C33/006—Consecutive billets, e.g. billet profiles allowing air expulsion or bonding of billets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K2101/00—Articles made by soldering, welding or cutting
    • B23K2101/04—Tubular or hollow articles
    • B23K2101/06—Tubes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to Friction Stir Welding and to the use of this method for joining billets.
  • Friction stir welding is described in EP-A-615480.
  • a friction welding tool (a probe) is inserted into a joint region to be welded, undergoes a cyclic motion to generate plasticised material and is typically traversed along the joint region, although in some cases it could simply be withdrawn without traversing.
  • This technique has been used not only in butt and lap joining of sheets and extruded profiles, but also for joining together profiles, sheets and castings to components or semi-finished products.
  • FSW FSW to join the billets also gives a more sound working environment and less pollution than the commonly used methods. No fumes or light reflection is caused by FSW as is the case when using for example arc welding. No filler material, special operative skill or shielding atmosphere is required.
  • Stationary Friction Stir Welding (not traversing along the joint) is used to join the billets before extrusion to the finished shape. Although a void is formed where the tool has left the joint area, the joint is strong enough to keep the parts together while put in the preheating furnace and extruded. Although stationary Friction Stir Welding has been used to join sheets and shaped parts billets have never before been joined in this way.
  • the billets may be made of a wide range of materials, in particular light metals, such as aluminium alloys.
  • Joining may be achieved with only two spots, but also more spots may be used to join the billets. After joining the billets are typically put in a preheating furnace and extruded to final shape, but also other types and shapes of billets may be joined in this way.
  • Figure 1 shows the joining of two billets according to the invention.
  • a pair of probes (A) are positioned substantially symmetrical about the rotational axis of the parts to be joined.
  • the probes are then rotated and plunged into the joint line between the parts to be joined to form a plasticised region around the probe.
  • the probe is then withdrawn and the material solidified, whereby a joint is formed.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pressure Welding/Diffusion-Bonding (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to Friction Stir Welding and to the use of this method for joining billets. When using aluminium billets to produce extrusions the billet is cut into smaller lengths, whereby the last bit cut off is not of sufficient length and scrap material is produced. In the present invention billets and cut-offs from billets are joined together by Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The speed of the joining process and the quality of the joint is thereby improved. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the probe (A) is not traversing along the joint line but is limited to an axial motion of the tool and the pieces are spot-welded.

Description

JOINING METHOD FOR BILLETS
The invention relates to Friction Stir Welding and to the use of this method for joining billets.
Friction stir welding is described in EP-A-615480. Typically, a friction welding tool (a probe) is inserted into a joint region to be welded, undergoes a cyclic motion to generate plasticised material and is typically traversed along the joint region, although in some cases it could simply be withdrawn without traversing.
This technique has been used not only in butt and lap joining of sheets and extruded profiles, but also for joining together profiles, sheets and castings to components or semi-finished products.
When using aluminium billets to produce extrusions it is a common problem that the billet is cut in smaller lengths, whereby the last bit cut off is not of sufficient length and scrap material is produced. In order to reduce the amount of scrap material these end-bits are welded to the next billet to be extruded, normally by arc welding. This method is however slow, and the joint formed is sometimes causing defects in the extruded material depending on the properties of the filler material.
The use of FSW to join the billets also gives a more sound working environment and less pollution than the commonly used methods. No fumes or light reflection is caused by FSW as is the case when using for example arc welding. No filler material, special operative skill or shielding atmosphere is required.
In accordance with the present invention cut-offs from billets (in the following all called billets) are joined together by Friction Stir Welding (FSW). The speed of the joining process and the quality of the joint is thereby improved
According to a second aspect of the invention Stationary Friction Stir Welding (not traversing along the joint) is used to join the billets before extrusion to the finished shape. Although a void is formed where the tool has left the joint area, the joint is strong enough to keep the parts together while put in the preheating furnace and extruded. Although stationary Friction Stir Welding has been used to join sheets and shaped parts billets have never before been joined in this way.
The billets may be made of a wide range of materials, in particular light metals, such as aluminium alloys.
Joining may be achieved with only two spots, but also more spots may be used to join the billets. After joining the billets are typically put in a preheating furnace and extruded to final shape, but also other types and shapes of billets may be joined in this way.
Figure 1 shows the joining of two billets according to the invention.
Refering to the drawing a pair of probes (A) are positioned substantially symmetrical about the rotational axis of the parts to be joined. The probes are then rotated and plunged into the joint line between the parts to be joined to form a plasticised region around the probe. The probe is then withdrawn and the material solidified, whereby a joint is formed.

Claims

Claims
1. Method for joining billets, characterized in that Friction Stir Welding is used to form the joint.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the relative movement in Friction Stir Welding between a tool and the billets are limited to an axial motion of the tool.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two or more joints are formed between the billets.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that four or more joints are being formed between the billets.
5. Method according to any of claims 1 -4, characterized in that the billets are cut-offs from cast billets.
6. Method according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the billets are made of an aluminium alloy.
7. Method according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the joined billets are extruded.
8. Method according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the joined billets are preheated before extrusion thereof. AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 10 September 2001 (10.09.01); original claims 1-8 replaced by amended claims 1-8 (1 page)]
1. Method for joining billets, the method comprising joining at least two billets by Friction Stir Welding and extruding the joined bi nets.
2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the relative move ment in. Friction Stir Welding between a tool and the billets are limited to an axial motion of the tool.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two or more joints are formed between the billets.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein four or more joints are being formed between the billets.
5. Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the billets are cut-offs from cast billets.
6. Method according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein at least one of the billets to be joined is a full length billet.
7. Method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the billets are made of an aluminium alloy.
8. Method according to any of claims 1 -7, wherein the joined billets are preheated before extrusion thereof. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19 (1)
The claims of PCT/SEOl 825 have been revised after notification of the search report sent from WIPO. The amendment has resulted in a new claim 1, a deletion of the original claim 7 and in an added new claim, no 6. The references to the preceding claims in claim 7 and 8 have consequently been altered.
The modification has resulted in a limitation of the scope of claim no 1 and through added claim 6 a clarification of the definition of types of billets to be joined.
We request that the revised claims will be published according to Article 21.
PCT/SE2001/000825 2000-04-17 2001-04-11 Joining method for billets WO2001078935A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001248969A AU2001248969A1 (en) 2000-04-17 2001-04-11 Joining method for billets

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0001414-2 2000-04-17
SE0001414A SE516494C2 (en) 2000-04-17 2000-04-17 Method of joining press topics
GB00013423.9 2000-06-05
GB0013423A GB2361887A (en) 2000-04-17 2000-06-05 Joining billets by friction stir welding

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001078935A1 true WO2001078935A1 (en) 2001-10-25

Family

ID=26244411

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2001/000825 WO2001078935A1 (en) 2000-04-17 2001-04-11 Joining method for billets

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2001248969A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001078935A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7712651B2 (en) * 2008-01-04 2010-05-11 G. James Australia Pty. Ltd. Method of welding heated log segments in an aluminum extrusion process

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993010935A1 (en) * 1991-12-06 1993-06-10 The Welding Institute Improvements relating to friction welding
WO1998058759A1 (en) * 1997-06-20 1998-12-30 British Aerospace Public Limited Company Friction welding metal components

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993010935A1 (en) * 1991-12-06 1993-06-10 The Welding Institute Improvements relating to friction welding
WO1998058759A1 (en) * 1997-06-20 1998-12-30 British Aerospace Public Limited Company Friction welding metal components

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7712651B2 (en) * 2008-01-04 2010-05-11 G. James Australia Pty. Ltd. Method of welding heated log segments in an aluminum extrusion process
US7950566B2 (en) 2008-01-04 2011-05-31 G. James Australia Pty. Ltd. Method of welding heated log segments in an aluminum extrusion process

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001248969A1 (en) 2001-10-30

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