Linear friction welding system with pre-heating

A method of welding a first component to a second component using a linear friction welding system, comprising:

• bringing a shaped charge portion of the first component into contact with the second component;
• establishing an initial scrub load pressure (L0) between the first component and the second component based upon a ratio between an initial surface area (A0) of a contact initiation portion of the shaped charge portion and a final surface area (A1) of the first component by controlling a hydraulic press with a processing circuit of a welding control system which executes program instructions stored within a memory;
• controlling the hydraulic press with the processing circuit to increase pressure between the first component and the second component from the L0 to a target scrub load pressure (Lscrub) based upon parameters stored in a memory;
• controlling, with the processing circuit, a ram operably connected to one of the first component and the second component to terminate oscillation of the ram after establishing the Lscrub;
• and
• controlling the hydraulic press with the processing circuit to establish or maintain a weld load pressure (Lweld) after terminating oscillation of the ram.