LIFT Off: Bond Technologies and Boeing

Refill Friction Stir Welding of Aerostructures

Friction Stir Spot Welding has been shown to be a high speed, high strength method of joining metal components. Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (rFSSW) can produce a very smooth surface on the material opposite of the welding head as it is forged against an anvil tool. Adding an option to refill the weld spot makes rFSSW an attractive option for aero surfaces. This project looks at thin aluminum, weld speeds, mechanical properties and cost for a candidate component.

Boeing’s Research & Technology division is Boeing’s corporate R&D team, made up of 10 subdivisions including Integrated Vehicle Systems, Materials & Manufacturing Technology, Mission Systems & Autonomy, Global Technology, etc. Representing BR*T’s Metallic Materials & Process team for this webinar are David Heck, Boeing’s LIFT technical rep, and Scott Rose, BR&T’s lead welding engineer. Together they will present their Fast Forge project focusing on rFSSW of thin aluminum skins & substructures.

Bond Technologies, headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, is a world leader in the design and production of friction stir welding and processing equipment.  In addition to designing and building machines for Friction Stir Welding, Friction Extrusion and Friction Stir Additive Manufacturing, Bond offers process development and training services.  It serves a variety of markets including aerospace, land vehicle production, ship building and electronics.