friction welding

You probably can't do truck axle housings on a standard lathe, but many people have done one-off and small runs of axle shafts, extended drill shanks, engine valves and all sorts of things on standard lathes and drill presses. What they do is apply force to squeeze the parts together, and when the heat is right, they shut off the motor and let the parts slow down. Too much inertia will break the weld when the metal freezes. Apparently, once you've done a few and get the feel of the technique, it is fairly easy to do.

Jon

I did friction welding on my 10EE. Takes a LOT of RPM and force. I found that a butt weld was impossible. I made an interference fit and spun the parts until they slid together - great weld. This was welding an extension onto a drill bit. I used the same idea to weld a side shield on a spool to the arbor.

Karl

Hey Karl,

I don't follow the part about " weld a side shield on a spool to the arbor." Wuzzatmeen???

Take care.

Brian Lawson, Bothwell, Ontario. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Just one of my projects that I used friction welding for. Think of a very small wire spool, or reel. I made one for holding rolls of PLU stickers for packing apples. My spool had side sheilds of 1/16" steel - they were 3" in diameter. Each shield was friction welded to part of the arbor with an interference fit. I made the unit so two quick turns would undo the two halves so you can quickly put in a new roll of PLU stickers.

The PLU sticker is that little ID sticker on each apple. My machine to apply them is probably worthy of a patent, but the market (other growers) is too small to ever make a profit.

Karl

Hey Karl,

OK. Thanks. Because the thread had gone onto friction welding in the lathe, I took "the arbor" to be the tail-stock for some reason.

Take care.

Brian Lawson, Bothwell, Ontario. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX