Tooling for additive friction stir deposition

Abstract

A tool, adapted for additive friction stir deposition, has a tool body having a face including a feedstock feed opening and a first protrusion adapted to smear and shear deposited feedstock material to ensure good print quality. The first protrusion extends in a spiral shape at least partially around the feedstock feed opening. In an alternative embodiment, the tool has a face including a feedstock feed opening and a protrusion adapted to smear and shear deposited feedstock material to ensure good print quality wherein the protrusion comprises (a) a first set of convexities arrayed around the feedstock feed opening a first radial distance from the feedstock feed opening and (b) a second set of convexities arrayed around the feedstock feed opening a second radial distance from the feedstock feed opening. The first radial distance and the second radial distance differ.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.