# US 10,442,030 B2 · Friction stir welding tool, related methods, and assemblies formed to include friction stir weld > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,442,030 B2 - Document ID: US10442030B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/698,949 - Filed: 2017-09-08 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-08 - Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC - Applicants: Seagate Technology LLC - Inventors: Samuel Edward Severson; Jeffrey L. Bruce; Jerome Thomas Coffey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10442030B2 ## CPC - B23K 20/1255: {Tools therefor, e.g. characterised by the shape of the probe} - B23K 20/1225: {Particular aspects of welding with a non-consumable tool} - B23K 20/129: {specially adapted for particular articles or work} - B23K 2101/24: Frameworks - B23K 2101/36: Electric or electronic devices - 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 ## Abstract Described are tools useful to produce a friction stir weld, methods of forming a friction stir weld, and assemblies such as electronic devices that include a friction stir weld. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for forming a friction stir weld, the tool comprising: a support body having: a longitudinal axis, an outer surface centered on the axis, and a distal end having a distal face centered on the axis and extending to a distal face perimeter, a pin extending from the distal face along the axis, a scroll pattern in the distal face, the scroll pattern comprising multiple arcuate grooves in the distal face, each groove extending from a groove start location located between the axis and the distal face perimeter, to a groove end segment at the distal face perimeter, and chamfered shoulder segments at the distal face perimeter between the groove end segments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the chamfered shoulder segments comprise surfaces that extend between the outer surface and the distal face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A tool of claim 2 wherein the chamfered shoulder surfaces extend along the perimeter between a support body edge defined by the chamfered shoulder surface and the outer surface, and a face edge defined by the chamfered shoulder surface and the distal face. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A tool of claim 3 wherein an angle at an intersection of the axis and a line that connects the support body edge and the face edge is in a range from 30 to 60 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A tool of claim 3 wherein a chamfered shoulder surface viewed in a cross sectional plane that includes the axis is a line between the support body edge and the face edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the scroll pattern includes a plurality of spiral grooves, and each groove extends along the distal face, away from the axis, to the perimeter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the grooves have a depth relative to the distal face in a range from 0.05 to 0.5 millimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the pin comprises: a base at a connection between the pin and the distal face and centered on the axis, a distal pin end located away from the base along the axis and centered on the axis, and pin sidewalls extending between the base and the distal pin end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A tool of claim 8 wherein the pin sidewalls include from 3 to 8 facets. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the support body has a diameter in a range from 2 to 10 millimeters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the pin has a diameter in a range from 0.01 to 1.5 millimeter measured at a connection between the pin and the distal face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the pin has a length along the axis in a range from 0.1 to 1.5 millimeters. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A tool of claim 1 wherein the grooves include chamfered sidewalls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method of forming a friction stir weld, the method comprising: providing a workpiece comprising a first metal piece and a second metal piece, providing a tool as provided at claim 1, placing the tool in contact with the workpiece, and rotating the tool about the axis while the tool contacts the workpiece to form a friction stir weld between the first metal piece and the second metal piece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14 wherein, with the tool in contact with the workpiece, the first metal piece has a first thickness in a direction of the axis and the second metal piece has a second thickness in the direction of the axis, and the first thickness is less than the second thickness. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method of claim 15 wherein the first thickness is less than 0.5 millimeters and the second thickness is greater than 0.5 millimeters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14 wherein during rotating the pin extends to a depth of the workpiece that is greater than the first thickness. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14 comprising, during rotating, applying downforce in a direction of the axis from the tool to the joint, the downforce being less than 1,000 newtons. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14 comprising, during rotating, moving the tool along the joint at a speed that is in a range from 0.1 to 3 meters per minute. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A method of claim 14 comprising forming the friction stir weld at a perimeter of the workpiece, wherein the friction stir weld provides a hermetic seal at the perimeter.