Friction stir welding load confirmation system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKurt A. Burton, Mike P. Matlack, Herb L. Bommer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable multi-axis load confirmation tool having a rotating ball on the end thereof follows a three-dimensional weld program path therewith. The ball reacts to an internal load cell for verifying weld program path dynamics before an actual program is run with friction stir welding tools. The load cell is connected to instrumentation electronics converting a load cell signal to a digital readout and comparing the load cell signal to weld program load requirements. The tool integrates into a tool holder loaded on a friction stir welding spindle for simulating an actual friction stir welding tool.
Claims11
A load confirmation tool comprising:
- a housing comprising a tip end and an adaptor end, said adaptor end adapted to couple to a friction stir welding machine tool holder;
- a ball extending at least partially from said tip end and rotatably coupled therewithin;
- and a load cell generating load signals as a function of load force applied to said ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.