This video demonstrates the performance of the MTI Model LS-1 friction stir welding machine. In this video, it’s welding an aluminum drive shaft with precision and control.
Specialized tooling holds and aligns the yoke, while the friction-stir weld head lowers a rotating pin tool into the material, generating heat through friction and plasticizing the metal to form a solid-state joint. As the spindle turns, the clamped shaft and pin tool advance, clearly showing how friction stir welding creates strong, repeatable welds without melting the base material. This highlights the power and versatility of FSW in automated manufacturing.
To learn more about the technology behind this process and its advantages, visit our Friction Stir Welding Technology page.