Development of low-cost linear friction machine

Citation

(2001), "Development of low-cost linear friction machine", Assembly Automation, Vol. 21 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2001.03321baf.007

Development of low-cost linear friction machine

Development of low-cost linear friction machine

Keywords Linear programming, Friction

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 of particular interest to the power generation, automotive and aerospace industrial sectors.

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 Technische Universität Graz from Austria. The total budget is 1.25 million euros and involves an effort of more than seven-and-a-half 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 technically, commercially and environmentally a very attractive process and is 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 (Figure 3), stainless steel, aluminium and inter-metallics, but the uptake of the process by industry has been impaired by high capital cost. A prototype machine (Figure 4), 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 lead to very substantial reductions in equipment price.

Figure 3 Linear friction welding of titanium in normal atmosphere

Figure 4 Artist's impression of the LinFric™ machine

For further information on the project or the LinFric™ machines, please contact: Dipl.-Ing. Stephan Kallee, TWI Ltd, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CBI 6AL, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1223 891162; Fax: +44 (0)1223 894367; e-mail: swkallee@twi.co.uk