Friction welding is a unique solid-state welding process that manufacturers rely on to produce different items. It creates heat using the mechanical friction between two components to weld joints together.
This type of welding offers a myriad of solutions for tough manufacturing problems. Its consistent quality and ability to join different metals, and other advantages make it ideal for the manufacturing process. Not only does friction welding save time, but it is also cost-effective.
It has extensive uses in various applications. There are very few limitations to this process, and so it is suitable for small and big factories alike. Let us see how this welding process is the future of manufacturing industries.
Friction welding provides consistency in all its forms: linear, low-force, rotator, and friction stir. It is easily applicable to a wide variety of part sizes and applications. It provides high forged quality joining that can fulfill anyone’s manufacturing demand.
The weld is machine-controlled, so the process is consistent and repetitive. It eliminates the chances of any human error that can take place during conventional welding. The quality of the weld is independent of the operator’s skill. Therefore there are no defects in the products of friction welding.
One of the factors that make friction welding popular among manufacturers is its unique ability to join dissimilar metals. Conventional welding has many limitations because most metal combinations are not compatible when using conventional welding methods. Friction welding solves this problem with it’s unique ability to combine several different types of metal, even when their fundamental properties are worlds apart.
The following are some of the common bi-metallic materials for friction welding.By using friction welding, you can join any two forgeable metals together, regardless of how different they are from each other. This gives engineers the freedom to create different combinations of bi-metallic structures. This saves money, as designers or engineers do not have to stick with one type of material to forge their finished products.
For example, welding copper and aluminum together are almost impossible through conventional methods. But with friction welding, it is possible.
Friction welding is not only cost-effective; it is also more sustainable than other methods. Friction welding has a greatly reduced waste factor compared to regular fabrication methods because it can combine materials in a near-net shape without excessive machining.
This obviously allows a reduction in both cost and post-welding time to dispose of extra-material. As this process produces less waste by using near-net material sizes, you’ll immediately see the cost savings involved with material purchasing, unlike conventional fabrication and welding methods.
The above qualities of the friction welding process clearly elaborate on why it is the future of the manufacturing process. There is no reason companies wouldn’t want to incorporate friction welding into their manufacturing process. From cost-effectiveness to time saving and consistent quality to reduced waste, the benefits are many.
Friction welding can also produce complex geometries on metal surfaces in a short time. There are innovative solutions in friction welding for all types of manufacturing processes.
