Method for operating double-action friction stir welding device, and double-action friction stir welding device

A method for operating a double-action friction stir welding device for welding an object to be welded including a first member and a second member by softening the object to be welded with frictional heat, the double-action friction stir welding device including

• a cylindrical shoulder member having a cylindrical central through hole concentrically extending at a center,
• a cylindrical pin member forming a welding tool together with the shoulder member, and fitted into the central through hole of the shoulder member concentrically with the shoulder member,
• a projection/retraction mechanism configured to cause the pin member to project/retract relative to the shoulder member,
• a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the welding tool about a center axis of the pin member, and
• an advancing/retracting mechanism configured to advance/retract the welding tool in an extending direction of the center axis of the pin member,
• the method comprising:
• operation (A) of performing friction stir welding for the first member and the second member placed in contact with each other, through rotation of the welding tool by the rotation mechanism, projection/retraction of the pin member relative to the shoulder member by the projection/retraction mechanism, and advancement/retraction of the welding tool by the advancing/retracting mechanism;
• and
• operation (E) of cleaning at least one of an outer circumferential surface of the pin member and an inner circumferential surface of the central through hole of the shoulder member at a predetermined timing.

A double-action friction stir welding device for welding an object to be welded including a first member and a second member by softening the object to be welded with frictional heat, the double-action friction stir welding device comprising:

• a cylindrical shoulder member having a cylindrical central through hole concentrically extending at a center;
• a cylindrical pin member forming a welding tool together with the shoulder member, and fitted into the central through hole of the shoulder member concentrically with the shoulder member;
• a projection/retraction mechanism configured to cause the pin member to project/retract relative to the shoulder member;
• a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the welding tool about a center axis of the pin member;
• an advancing/retracting mechanism configured to advance/retract the welding tool in an extending direction of the center axis of the pin member;
• and
• a controller, wherein
• the controller executes
• operation (A) of performing friction stir welding for the object to be welded through rotation of the welding tool by control of the rotation mechanism, projection/retraction of the pin member relative to the shoulder member by control of the projection/retraction mechanism, and advancement/retraction of the welding tool by control of the advancing/retracting mechanism, and
• operation (B1) of performing at least one of warning, prohibition of operation of the welding tool, and cleaning of the welding tool on the basis of a level of an adhesion parameter correlated with a degree of adhesion of a material of the object to be welded, caused by the friction stir welding, on an outer circumferential surface of the pin member and an inner circumferential surface of the central through hole of the shoulder member.

A double-action friction stir welding device for welding an object to be welded including a first member and a second member by softening the object to be welded with frictional heat, the double-action friction stir welding device comprising:

• a cylindrical shoulder member having a cylindrical central through hole concentrically extending at a center;
• a cylindrical pin member forming a welding tool together with the shoulder member, and fitted into the central through hole of the shoulder member concentrically with the shoulder member;
• a projection/retraction mechanism configured to cause the pin member to project/retract relative to the shoulder member;
• a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the welding tool about a center axis of the pin member;
• an advancing/retracting mechanism configured to advance/retract the welding tool in an extending direction of the center axis of the pin member;
• and
• a controller, wherein
• the controller executes
• operation (A) of performing friction stir welding for the first member and second member placed in contact with each other, through rotation of the welding tool by the rotation mechanism, projection/retraction of the pin member relative to the shoulder member by the projection/retraction mechanism, and advancement/retraction of the welding tool by the advancing/retracting mechanism, and
• operation (E) of performing at least one of warning, prohibition of operation of the welding tool, and cleaning of the welding tool at a predetermined timing.