Friction Welding

Friction welding is a pressure welding process that produces heat through mechanical friction that is usually generated by the relative movement between a rotating and a stationary workpiece. The workpieces are brought together under force without any filler material.

Friction welding requires personnel with special skills and know-how. The DVS 2909-4 technical bulletin “Friction welding of metal materials – Requirements to be met by friction welding personnel” describes the different activities including the corresponding tasks, competences and required skills. GSI has a suitable further training program for this qualification.

The friction welding machine operator loads and unloads the friction welding machine and starts the automatic welding cycle. He/she conducts visual inspections and simple measuring and testing tasks. The operator has no access to parameter settings and may not change the specified welding parameters. For this reason – unlike the qualification testing of welding operators in compliance with DIN EN ISO 14732 – operational training is sufficient according to the DVS 2909-4 technical bulletin.

The friction welding machine setter equips the machine for the component to be welded and sets the welding parameters or the corresponding welding program according to the welding procedure specification (WPS). He/she can adjust the welding parameters within a specified range. The weld setter should have qualified training in a metalworking vocation and in-depth knowledge of the operation and handling of the respective friction welding machines and of process flow/parameter influence.

In addition to the general operational welding tasks, the welding supervisor also specifies the welding parameters for friction welding and prepares the welding procedure specification (WPS). Besides qualified technical vocational training (traineeship, university) and training as welding specialist (SFM), welding technologist (ST) or international welding engineer (SFI), specific knowledge of friction welding, in particular process flow, material behavior and joint formation is necessary.

The quality assurance specialist is responsible for quality assurance of the friction welded components and for supervising the production sequences before and after friction welding. This requires specific knowledge and experience in friction welding, in particular knowledge of process flow, special quality features and errors, and about implementing different testing methods or a procedure test.

• Friction Welding I

• Friction Welding II

• Friction Welding III

• Friction Stir Welding

• Experience exchange Friction Welding