Friction stir welding tool and machine tool

A machine tool comprising:

• a spindle frame in which a rotation spindle is disposed;
• a friction stir welding tool mounted on the spindle frame;
• a machining table on which a workpiece is held;
• a tool storage in which the friction stir welding tool is temporarily stored;
• and
• an NC device configured to control movement of the spindle frame and the machining table,
• wherein the friction stir welding tool comprises:
• a pin holder comprising a shank connected to the rotation spindle;
• a stir pin mounted on the pin holder;
• and
• a housing comprising:
• a cylindrical portion through which the pin holder is passed;
• and
• a plate portion connected to the spindle frame,
• wherein a shoulder is disposed at one end of the cylindrical portion,
• wherein an engaging portion engageable with the spindle frame is fixed to an upper surface of the plate portion, and
• wherein the tool storage comprises:
• a tool magazine in which a stock of the pin holders is stored;
• and
• a housing storage table which is separate from the tool magazine and which is disposed on the machining table.

A friction stir welding tool comprising:

• a stir pin having a rotation axis and including a tip end and a rear end opposite to the tip end along the rotation axis;
• a pin holder supporting the stir pin to rotate with the stir pin around the rotation axis and having a front portion and a rear portion opposite to the front portion along the rotation axis, the tip end of the stir pin projecting from the front portion, the rear portion being configured to be attached to and detached from a rotation spindle of a machining tool, the pin holder having a groove between the front portion and rear portion, the groove being configured to be gripped by the machining tool when the rear portion is detached from the rotation spindle;
• and
• a housing housing the pin holder such that the pin holder is rotatable relatively to the housing, the tip end of the stir pin projecting from the housing, the housing comprising an engaging portion engageable with a spindle frame of a machining head, the rotation spindle being rotatable relatively to the spindle frame.

A machine tool comprising:

• a machining head;
• a friction stir welding tool comprising:
• a stir pin having a rotation axis and including a tip end and a rear end opposite to the tip end along the rotation axis;
• a pin holder supporting the stir pin to rotate with the stir pin around the rotation axis and having a front portion and a rear portion opposite to the front portion along the rotation axis, the tip end of the stir pin projecting from the front portion;
• and
• a housing housing the pin holder such that the pin holder is rotatable relatively to the housing, the tip end of the stir pin projecting from the housing, the housing comprising an engaging portion engageable with a spindle frame of the machining head such that the rear portion of the pin holder is attached to a rotation spindle of the machining head to rotate the pin holder, the rotation spindle being rotatable relatively to the spindle frame;
• a machining table on which a workpiece is to be provided;
• an NC device configured to control movement of the machining head and the machining table;
• a tool magazine in which a plurality of pin holders for replacement is stored;
• and
• a housing storage table provided on the machining table and separated from the tool magazine.