Development of low cost linear friction machine

Citation

(2001), "Development of low cost linear friction machine", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773cad.003

Development of low cost linear friction machine

Development of low cost linear friction machine

Keywords: TWI, Blacks Equipment, Welding

An international project, partly funded by the European Community's CRAFT initiative, brings together eight collaborators intending to reduce dramatically the cost of linear friction welding equipment. This is thought to be of particular interest to the aerospace industry.

The project is co-ordinated by Blacks Equipment and managed by TWI, both from the UK. The other members of the consortium are Klaus Raiser and Harms & Wende from Germany, Dartec and ABB Alstom Power from the UK, together with Deltamatic of Italy and Technigche Universitat Graz from Austria. The total budget is 1.25 million Euro and involves an effort of more than 71 man-years.

In linear friction welding, two surfaces are rubbed together in an oscillating fashion such that a variety of complex profiles can be joined. It is believed to be technically, commercially and environmentally a very attractive process and is considered ideally suited to both mass production and manufacture of specialised components in limited numbers. It has been applied to a wide range of alloys, such as titanium, stainless steel, aluminium and inter-metallics, but the uptake of the process by industry has been impaired by high capital cost. A prototype machine, trademarked by TWI LinFric, incorporates novel solutions that reduce the manufacturing cost of the equipment. These are based on more efficient use of power sources and stored energy concepts and will, it is believed, lead to very substantial reductions in equipment price.

Details available from: Blacks Equipment Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1302 834444; Fax: +44 (0) 1302 831834; E-mail: sales@blacksequipment.com