Optimizing and Redesigning the Vertical Milling Fixture for Friction Stir Welding of Aluminium Alloy (Al 6061)
https://doi.org/10.46610/JoAME.2024.v09i01.003
Keywords:
Al & Al alloys, Friction Stir Welding (FSW), Materials, Solid state thermo mechanical, Vertical Milling Machining (VMM)Abstract
Friction stir welding is a kind of solid-state fusion process for welding like or unlike metals. Established and patented by “The Institute of Welding” in the UK in December 1991, it involves using a compressive force applied by a conventional milling machine to make contact with work-pieces. The work-pieces are one or the other revolving or moving proportional to a pin tool, generating the heat necessary for atomic diffusion and thereby uniting the material at the edges. FSW can be functional in a variety of materials, together with stainless steel, aluminium, and various alloys. The process typically takes place on vertical milling machines, requiring a vertical milling fixture to firmly hold the plates being welded. In this paper, vertical milling holding setup and fixture for FSW procedures on vertical milling machines are established. Materials such as aluminium and aluminium alloy (Al 6061) are analyzed for their suitability in FSW operations, to identify the best material for the process. Additionally, there is potential for extending the FSW process to plastics and similar materials. Friction stir welding offers significant advantages in terms of weld quality, strength, and versatility across a range of industries, making it a versatile option for solid-state joining processes.
