When manufacturing critical components for applications such as transportation, space flight, oil & gas, construction, and the military, quality isn’t just important — it’s absolutely essential. Implementing a trusted joining technology allows components to reach the desired quality and durability.
Friction welding is a cutting edge technology solution that will solve a broad range of manufacturing problems. Our friction welding technologies – Low Force, Rotary, Linear, and Friction Stir – help companies save time and money on their projects; leading to an improved bottom line.
Forged Quality with Friction Welding
Friction welding is a solid-state forging process. Materials being joined through friction welding are heated to a temperature that makes them plasticized, not melted. Then, using extremely high forces, the pieces are pressed together to form a forge quality bond. This process works for similar and dissimilar metals such as joining copper and aluminum for a battery application.
Since materials are not melted in the friction welding process, the result is a part featuring solid, 100% butt joints that are durable for years of use. Distortion is minimal and quality is consistent, even across high volume production runs, thanks to friction welding’s ability to accommodate automated processes. The completed part may be used for a broad number of applications in an equally broad number of industry sectors.
The types of components and parts where friction welding is applicable is expansive, but here are several examples:
- Jet engine compressor rotors
- Oil drill pipe
- Automotive air bags
- Turbo chargers
- Pistons
- Check valves
- Barbells
- Axle tubes
- Drive shafts
- Jet engine blisks (bladed disks)
- Rail car panels
- Battery cables
- Engine valves
- Hydraulic cylinder rods
You can see more sample parts here.
MTI Can Solve Your Problems
MTI has also used the friction welding process for near net shape manufacturing of parts since the start and has now proven the ability to produce quality parts by friction welding with additively manufactured parts. With these techniques – among the several friction welding options applied by our expert engineers every day – MTI has the knowledge and know how to solve your manufacturing problems.
Our commitment to quality and high standards is demonstrated in our Nadcap, AS9100, and ISO 9001 certifications.
To learn more about friction welding, visit our website or watch how friction welding can be put to work for you. We’ll build a machine that makes your part, we’ll make the part for you, or we’ll help you make the part even better.