Effort modulation for process control of friction stir operations
AssigneeBrigham Young University
InventorsKenneth Alec Ross, Carl D. Sorensen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for making adjustments to output effort from a spindle driver using a multi-stage nested control loop of an active controller to provide constant power to a friction stir zone during a friction stir operation. Providing constant power facilitates temperature control within the friction stir zone and thereby improves the result of the operation such as a weld.
Claims17
A method for using an active controller to control the temperature of a friction stir zone, said method comprising:
- providing an active controller for controlling operation of a friction stir tool;
- and
- controlling power provided by the friction stir tool to a friction stir zone using the active controller to control a temperature of the friction stir zone, wherein the power provided to the friction stir zone is controlled by making adjustments to an output effort of a spindle driver that is used to drive the friction stir tool.
A friction stir system for controlling power provided to a friction stir zone during friction stir operations, said system comprised of:
- a friction stir tool;
- a spindle that is coupled to the friction stir tool;
- a spindle driver that is coupled to the spindle to thereby cause the friction stir tool to rotate;
- an active controller for controlling operation of the friction stir tool, wherein the active controller adjusts an output effort of the spindle driver that is used to drive the friction stir tool to thereby control power provided to a friction stir zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.