Friction stir welding apparatus and friction stir welding method

Abstract

A friction stir welding apparatus includes a welding tool that includes a shoulder and a probe supported by the shoulder, is inserted into a plurality of welding target members, and moves while rotating to weld the plurality of welding target members, a spindle motor that is coupled to the welding tool to rotate the welding tool in a predetermined direction, a welding head that supports the spindle motor, and an apparatus body that supports the welding head, applies a drive signal to the spindle motor, and moves the welding tool along a welding line while rotating the welding tool. The apparatus body has a first correction mode in which a welding tool position indicating a position of the welding tool in a Z-axis direction is corrected based on a variable correction quantity calculated by a predetermined operational expression according to a fluctuation quantity of a state quantity indicating a control quantity of the welding head in a Z-axis upper direction or a Z-axis lower direction when friction stir welding is performed on the welding target members by the welding tool, and a second correction mode in which the welding tool position is corrected based on a preset fixed correction quantity according to the fluctuation quantity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.