Mazak MegaStir Technology on Display

As a pioneer in friction stir welding (FSW) technology, Mazak MegaStir will display some of its latest developments for that advanced joining process at FABTECH 2023. Among those developments are the company’s intelligent and dynamic FSW toolholders and its recently released line of diamond FSW tool tips.

All are for use in HYBRID Multi-Tasking machine operations that combine subtractive processes with that of FSW assembly/joining. This hybrid platform provides the ability to join assembly components on the same machine with the same operator and consolidates factory floor footprints while decreasing capital expenditures.

Intelligent FSW tool holders are pulled – via a normal tool change cycle – from the tool magazine of a Mazak vertical or horizontal machining center to perform FSW operations. The tool holder collects temperature, Z-axis load data and other information to enable operators to manage the FSW process. FSW software available through Mazak’s MAZATROL Smooth CNC allows real-time monitoring of FSW’s three main processes – plunging, traversing and extracting.

Dynamic FSW tool holders support any older legacy machine tool. While the holder is manual and does not connect to the machine CNC, it does allow shops to reap all the benefits of adding FSW capability to conventional subtractive machine tools.

Ultra-hard diamond tipped FSW pin tools are designed specifically for joining aluminum alloys, deliver higher performance, longer tool life and superior weld quality. With the strength of polycrystalline diamond, the tools provide effective thermal conductivity for improved weld surface finishes and allow for higher spindle speeds that boost FSW productivity rates.

REGISTER NOW